Nuggets restricted free agent Peyton Watson remains in a familiar holding pattern, and the latest read on his market still points to the same neighborhood. Speaking on DNVR Sports’ Nuggets podcast, NBA insider Marc Stein said he continues to hear Denver’s offers are landing in the $16-18MM per year range.
Stein said last week that the Nuggets’ top offer to Watson at that stage of free agency was around $70MM over four seasons, a figure that works out to $17.5MM annually. He reiterated that same ballpark while laying out the challenge facing a restricted free agent trying to squeeze more out of the market.
“I’ve consistently heard the offers are in the $16-to-$18MM range, in terms of annual average value,” Stein said. “You can understand if you’re in Peyton Watson’s shoes, you wouldn’t want that.
You would want more. But the uncomfortable reality of restricted free agency is it’s incumbent on the restricted free agent to go out and generate more.
You guys see the same marketplace I do - how is he going to do that?”
While Watson waits for his situation to resolve, he’s been working on his body this offseason. He recently posted on Instagram that he’s up to 220 pounds, after being listed at 200 pounds last season.
There’s also a little more clarity on how another Nuggets forward approached his own free agency. Harrison Wind of The Denver Gazette relayed via Twitter that Spencer Jones discussed the process in a LinkedIn post, saying he weighed the possibility of expansion in two years and a new CBA in three years when deciding how many seasons to sign for.
Out in Portland, Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron took a fresh look at the Trail Blazers’ acquisition of Ja Morant and what it could mean going forward. Gozlan pointed out that the Blazers bought low on Morant, but he also flagged the downside: Morant didn’t play especially well when available last season, and he now joins a crowded backcourt that new head coach Micah Nori will need to sort through.
And in Minnesota, the Timberwolves became the first team beyond Brooklyn and New York to formally lock in a deal with DAZN for game streaming in 2026/27. Dane Moore and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic examined what that means for fans in Minnesota, who will no longer be able to watch Wolves games through traditional cable or satellite TV packages.
In Other News...
Blazers Suddenly Face A Huge Scoot Henderson Decision
Portlands offseason drew a sharp review from CBS Sports Sam Quinn, who pointed to the same issue that has hovered over the roster for a while now: too many guards and not enough clarity about how they all fit. The crowded backcourt leaves the Trail Blazers juggling development and roles, especially with young pieces like Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson needing real runway to grow.
Hendersons future is now part of that larger conversation, with the Blazers having to decide how committed they want to be to him as they map out the next phase of the rebuild. Portland can keep kicking the question down the road, but the longer the logjam lingers, the harder it becomes to tell where Henderson stands in the long-term plan. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Arena Fight Just Put Portlands Long Term Plans In Doubt
Portlands long-discussed Moda Center overhaul moved back into the public eye this week, with the City Council holding a session on a proposed $600 million renovation plan. The discussion came with plenty of familiar arguments from both sides, as supporters pointed to the potential economic boost and labor work tied to the project while critics questioned whether the city and county should be lining up financial priorities around a publicly backed arena effort.
The next steps are still murky, even with local government bodies inching toward decisions of their own. Multnomah County commissioners are also expected to weigh in on a resolution tied to the projects financing commitment, but the Trail Blazers have not given much detail about what the renovation would actually include, leaving the scope of the plan and the teams posture toward it hanging over the process. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Suddenly Face A Ja Morant Question They Cant Ignore
Portlands front office is already deep into a balancing act, with Jrue Holiday and Ja Morant now sitting at the center of the conversation. The Blazers are evaluating what each would mean for the roster they are trying to build, and the question is not just about talent, but about fit, age, and how each player would complement a young core that still needs structure around it.
The financial side makes the issue even harder to ignore, especially with the need to create room for an extension for All-Star Deni Avdija. Holidays steadiness is easier to plug into a developing team, while Morant brings a different kind of ceiling and a different kind of decision. Portland does not seem likely to be able to keep both paths open for long, which is what makes this such a delicate call. [Read more 🡒]