The Grizzlies’ offseason has already been packed with movement, and the roster still isn’t settled. With the Isaiah Stewart trade expected to become official soon, Memphis may have another name worth circling: Denver’s Peyton Watson.
That possibility is getting a little more real after a new report from Sam Amick of The Athletic. The expectation around the league had been that the Nuggets would match any offer for Watson, a restricted free agent. But Amick reported that Denver is also open to another path if the contract talks don’t come together.
"Yet as the Nuggets and Watson’s agent, Rich Paul of the Klutch Sports Group, have continued to be apart in negotiations for a new contract, sources say Denver is also very open to the prospect of a sign-and-trade for the 23-year-old forward." - Sam Amick, The Athletic
Amick also noted that multiple teams have sign-and-trade interest in Watson, while Denver still wants to keep him. He added that the Nuggets’ front office has not been told to slash salary, even with the recent chatter about avoiding the second apron.
For Memphis, though, the opening is enough to make the idea worth exploring. The Grizzlies have already been one of the league’s busiest teams this offseason, adding Cam Boozer, Karim Lopez, and Richie Saunders in the 2026 NBA Draft while also making major trade moves. They brought in Isaiah Stewart, then dealt away Santi Aldama and franchise star Ja Morant.
Even after all that, there’s still housekeeping to do before the Grizzlies get to 15 roster spots. Jerami Grant is expected to be a key piece this season, but some of the other players acquired in trades, including Kris Murray and AJ Johnson, have uncertain futures in Memphis. Taj Gibson could be waived, and there have also been recent rumors about Kentavious Caldwell-Pope being traded or bought out.
If the Nuggets do decide to seriously consider moving Watson, Memphis has the kind of flexibility that could matter. The Grizzlies still have their full $28.9M TPE available, along with one of the stronger collections of draft assets in the league if a player-for-player deal doesn’t materialize.
Watson, who will be 24 next season, is coming off his best year as a pro. He averaged 14.6 points, 4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 2 stocks per game while appearing in 54 games.
At 6 foot 8 and 200 pounds, he brings athleticism on the wing, real two-way upside, and enough room to keep climbing. He also shot 41.1% from three.
The Grizzlies already have plenty to like about the direction of their offseason. Adding Peyton Watson to the conversation would only raise the ceiling on what has become a very active summer in Memphis.
In Other News...
Grizzlies Just Sent A Clear Message About Who Matters Next
The Grizzlies took a different look in their third Salt Lake City Summer League game on July 7, choosing to rest several players who had handled the first two outings and giving the finale a more experimental feel. Memphis still had enough firepower to stay competitive for stretches, but the rotation shift made the night feel less about the scoreboard and more about which pieces the organization wanted to protect and evaluate next.
Memphis fell to the Hawks 96-82, with Brendan Hausen providing the scoring punch, while Taylor Hendricks returned after sitting out the previous game because of injury. The bigger picture now turns to Las Vegas, where the Grizzlies are expected to get their rested players back and continue sorting out who is actually part of the next wave. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Fans Have One Big Question About Memphis Latest Trade
Khris Middletons move to Washington is only part of a sprawling sign-and-trade that has tied together the Wizards, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Pistons, Clippers and Bucks, and Memphis is right in the middle of it. For Grizzlies fans, the headline is less about where Middleton ended up and more about what the team chose to take back in the shuffle, since the franchise used a complicated multi-team deal to add another layer to its offseason work.
The real question now is how Memphis plans to handle the incoming guard piece and the draft capital attached to the trade. The Grizzlies have been active in reshaping the roster around their core, and this kind of move usually signals flexibility as much as it does a clear long-term fit, which is why the next step here matters almost as much as the trade itself. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Just Made Their Riskiest Frontcourt Bet Yet
The frontcourt shuffle in Memphis took another turn after the Grizzlies sent Santi Aldama to Dallas in a deal that brought back AJ Johnson, a protected 2030 first-round pick and two future second-round picks, along with the draft rights to EuroLeague forward Tarik Biberovi going to the Mavericks. Aldama had become a useful piece for Memphis before a knee injury interrupted his momentum, and moving him now signals the Grizzlies are willing to rework that part of the roster rather than simply wait for it to heal itself.
Quinten Post is the next name to watch, with Memphis moving quickly to a three-year offer sheet for the restricted free agent. Golden State now has the chance to decide whether to keep him, and that waiting period leaves the Grizzlies in a familiar spot for a team trying to patch together size and spacing on the fly. If the Warriors pass, Memphis may have found a way to soften the blow of losing Aldama. If they do not, the risk in this frontcourt bet gets even harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]