The Golden State Warriors may not have any direct say in Peyton Watson’s restricted free agency, but they do have a reason to watch it closely. What happens with the young forward in Denver could ripple beyond this summer and, in a very specific way, touch the Warriors’ long-shot hopes of getting into the Nikola Jokic conversation down the line.
Watson’s stalemate with the Nuggets sits at the center of it. Denver appears open to moving him instead of paying him a $20+ million per year extension, and that’s where Golden State starts paying attention.
If the Nuggets ultimately let Watson walk in a sign-and-trade, the Warriors would prefer the return to be mediocre. That would be useful for them for two reasons: it would be a hit to a direct conference rival they’ll face three times this season, and it could shape how Jokic views the front office and ownership.
There’s also a very specific team Golden State would like to see land Watson if he leaves. An Eastern Conference destination, such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, would be the best-case outcome from the Warriors’ perspective, with Cleveland described as a leading suitor for the 23-year-old.
The Nuggets have shown before that financial concerns can drive roster decisions. They matched the Oklahoma City Thunder’s two-year, $12 million offer sheet for Spencer Jones, but the possibility of parting with Watson instead of paying him has raised eyebrows. If Denver starts slowly, outsiders - and maybe even Jokic - could point to that reluctance as part of the reason.
That matters because the Warriors are already looking far ahead. They have projected cap space next summer, and Jokic can opt out and become an unrestricted free agent.
For Golden State, the path to even being mentioned in that kind of sweepstakes is narrow. Everything would need to break their way, and Watson’s unresolved free agency may be the first crack they’re hoping to see.
Jokic isn’t expected to sign an extension yet, with the belief that he’s waiting to maximize his next deal. Next summer, the 31-year-old would be eligible for a five-year contract worth nearly $360 million. But by holding off another year, he also leaves the door open for things to go sideways for him, for Denver, or for both.
That’s the opening Golden State is watching. Watson’s situation may seem small on its own, but in the Warriors’ eyes, it could be the first sign that starts to loosen Denver’s grip on its future.
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