Rich Paul says Peyton Watson’s playoff absence in Denver wasn’t just about the hamstring.
The Nuggets needed every defender they could find in that first-round loss to the Timberwolves, especially with Minnesota’s wings carving them up and Ayo Dosunmu doing damage too. Watson, one of Denver’s better perimeter stoppers, never got on the floor because of a right hamstring strain. On the latest episode of Game Over With Max Kellerman and Rich Paul, though, Paul made it sound like there was more to the decision than the injury alone.
Paul, Watson’s agent, said the situation had to be handled carefully because of the contract angle and the timing of the playoffs.
"He (Watson) was dealing with a soft tissue injury. And when you're dealing with those injuries, you have to be very careful in your return.
Now, mind you, the playoffs was coming up, guys want to play, and you have to protect them from themselves in that moment because you up for a contract, and it's the playoffs, and "I've had a pretty good year, so I need to play." And it's important to protect them," Paul said.
That lines up with the idea that Watson wanted to suit up and help Denver, but was steered toward sitting out instead. Since Paul was part of the conversation, the business side of it came through loud and clear: if Watson wasn’t fully right, risking the injury for one playoff run wasn’t the move.
From a fan’s perspective, that kind of reasoning is tough to swallow. The Nuggets had other players fighting through pain in the series.
Aaron Gordon played through an injured left calf, missed Game 3, then returned for Game 4 and logged 23 minutes. Christian Braun said he was playing hurt as well.
Even Nikola Jokic was seen with ice on his injured wrist during timeouts. In the playoffs, almost nobody is at 100%.
Watson’s case, though, ended up being treated like a business call. The Nuggets were rumored to have offered four years, $70 million, while Watson ultimately landed four years, $88 million with the Cavaliers. That gap suggests Denver had a ceiling it wasn’t willing to blow past, and Watson’s playoff absence may have been part of the broader picture when the Nuggets decided not to go higher.
In the end, both sides made their move. Watson and Paul made a business choice for the player. Denver answered with one of its own.
In Other News...
Nikola Jokic Got Dragged Into A WNBA Debate And Fans Pounced
Lexie Brown found herself in the middle of a Nuggets-adjacent basketball argument after sitting down with Michael Porter Jr. on his Curious Mike YouTube channel and pushing back on his criticism of the WNBA. Browns broader point was simple enough: elite basketball is not defined by constant dunks or pure vertical explosiveness, and players can dominate with strength, balance, coordination and high-level decision-making just as much as with lift.
Nikola Jokic became the lightning rod for that point, and fans wasted little time reacting to the way Brown framed him in the conversation. Some disagreed with her take on his fundamentals, turning a discussion about skill and athleticism into another round of debate over what real basketball excellence looks like. [Read more 🡒]
Jamal Murrays Mindset Says Everything About What The Nuggets Still Need
Jamal Murrays new four-year maximum extension with the Nuggets, worth $208 million, would be enough to change the daily habits of almost anyone. But Murray has made it clear he still wants his life, and his approach to the game, to be defined by something other than the paycheck. Even after locking in that kind of money, he has kept his attention on winning and on the kind of career he wants to build in Denver.
That mindset matters because it speaks to the tone the Nuggets still need around their core. Murray has emphasized that money is not his focus, choosing instead to stay grounded and think about the example he sets at home, especially for his younger brother. It is a small detail with a bigger point attached: for Denver, the challenge is making sure the standards in the room stay tied to basketball, not comfort. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Just Created A Roster Question Fans Wont Ignore
Denvers latest roster move left a question hanging almost as soon as the paperwork was done. Julian Reese came over from the Washington Wizards in the five-team deal that also involved Peyton Watson, giving the Nuggets another two-way piece to sort through as the offseason churn continued, but the fit did not last long. For a team that was in position to keep developing young depth, the move stood out because it came with open two-way contract spots still available.
Reese had at least shown enough in limited NBA looks to make the decision eyebrow-raising. In 13 appearances, he flashed the kind of production that usually earns a longer look, including a game with 26 points and 17 rebounds, which only sharpened the curiosity around why Denver moved on so quickly. The Nuggets have every right to keep shaping the back end of the roster, but this one already feels like a decision fans will be watching closely for the explanation behind it. [Read more 🡒]