Rich Paul may have just explained why Peyton Watson never made it back onto the floor for the Nuggets in the playoffs, and the answer sounds less like a medical setback than a business call.
Denver could have used Watson badly in that first-round loss to Minnesota. The Timberwolves got downhill and did plenty of damage with their wings, while Watson was stuck watching because of a right hamstring strain. But on the latest episode of Game Over With Max Kellerman and Rich Paul, Paul - Watson’s agent - made it sound like the bigger issue was timing, money, and caution.
“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’s the part that jumps out. Paul and Kellerman were talking through Watson’s sign-and-trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers and what went into getting that deal done, but the conversation also opened the door to Watson’s playoff absence. And from the way Paul framed it, Watson may have wanted to suit up, while his agent pushed him to think bigger than one series.
That’s a tough pill for Nuggets fans to swallow. Aaron Gordon was grinding through an injured left calf.
He missed Game 3, came back for Game 4, and played 23 minutes. Christian Braun said he was playing hurt, too.
Even Nikola Jokic was seen with ice on his injured wrist during timeouts. In the playoffs, almost nobody is at full strength.
So the idea that Watson’s absence was part of a “protection” plan tied to his next contract is going to rub plenty of people the wrong way.
There’s still no public answer on exactly how limited Watson was. That’s known only by Watson, the trainers, and maybe people inside the Nuggets organization. But Paul’s comments make it sound as if he was advising Watson not to risk worsening the hamstring when a bigger payday was already on the table.
And in the end, the money did get bigger. The Nuggets were rumored to have offered four years, $70 million, while Watson landed with the Cavaliers on a four-year, $88 million deal. Denver clearly drew its line, and maybe Watson’s playoff absence was part of why the Nuggets refused to move any further.
However it played out, both sides made their business decision. Watson and Paul got the contract they were chasing. Denver got to hold firm rather than stretch for what it apparently viewed as too much.
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 🡒]
Peyton Watsons Nuggets Playoff Absence Looks More Complicated Now
Peyton Watsons playoff absence for the Nuggets was already explained by a right hamstring strain, but the backstory around that decision has gotten a lot more layered. Watsons agent, Rich Paul, discussed the situation on a podcast and framed the choice as one that balanced short-term availability with the bigger picture of Watsons future, a reminder that postseason injuries can carry consequences well beyond one spring.
Watson eventually landed a major new contract, signing a four-year deal with the Cavaliers, and the financial context around his next step makes Denvers side of the story even more interesting. The Nuggets had been in the mix with an offer of their own, but the gap between what was available and what Watson ultimately secured helps explain why his playoff no-show now feels like more than just a hamstring issue. [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 🡒]