Denver Nuggets Likely To Be Priced Out Of Keeping Rising Star In Free Agency

The Denver Nuggets have been one of the NBA's most successful and consistent teams over the past decade, owing most of that success to three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. However, the team has managed to put some solid role players around him, with the likes of Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., and others playing key roles in their 2023 NBA Championship.

This summer, however, they moved Porter Jr. in a trade to upgrade their depth, adding Cam Johnson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Bruce Brown as they look to go on another championship run. It was the faith they put in Peyton Watson that may pay off the most, with the 23-year-old posting 11 points, five rebounds, and two assists per game in an expanded role thus far in 2025–26.

That may benefit them in the short term, but beyond that, this could harm them in a big way, as a report from The Denver Post reveals that he may have priced himself out of remaining in Denver as a free agent.

“Watson and the Nuggets did not agree to a contract extension before the season, which would’ve tagged him with the same poison-pill provision as Braun. Instead, he’s now performing well in a contract year, and league sources believe it’s increasingly unlikely that he’ll be in Denver’s price range next summer when he’s a restricted free agent.”

Thankfully for Denver, there's plenty of depth around Jokic, Murray, and Johnson to continue leading them to success, but given how good Watson has been, losing him would be a major blow to this organization.