Nuggets reportedly going all-in for $305M future Hall of Famer after trading Peyton Watson image
The NBA offseason is still alive and well, especially in restricted free agency. Players like Bennedict Mathurin, Jalen Duren and Peyton Watson have had difficult paths toward securing their futures.
However, one name came off the board Wednesday night when Watson was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was a complicated deal involving five teams.
“Denver is trading Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers and will receive Cleveland's 2031 first-round pick and a 2032 second-rounder from the Sacramento Kings. The Cavs are sending Max Strus to the Los Angeles Clippers, which gives them the flexibility to sign Watson to a four-year, $88 million contract. There were multiple other minor moves involved to complete the deal, including the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets,”
The deal helped the Denver Nuggets financially, but they still find themselves in a difficult salary-cap situation. With Watson gone, Denver also has a position to fill, and it appears the team could turn its attention to free-agent veteran DeMar DeRozan.
“The Denver Nuggets are pivoting and have their eyes directed on six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan who remains a free agent in demand for contenders, league sources tell me,” NBA reporter Chris Haynes wrote.
DeRozan would give the Nuggets an experienced offensive weapon who could potentially be added at a reasonable cost. The six-time All-Star became a free agent after being released by the Sacramento Kings.
“The Sacramento Kings have waived DeMar DeRozan, the team announced Monday, making the six-time All-Star one of the top free agents on the market. DeRozan had a partial guarantee on his contract for next season, but he and Sacramento worked on his release to allow him to find a new home,” ESPN wrote.
At this point, Denver will likely be grateful for whatever help it can find in free agency. DeRozan is a future Hall of Famer who could fit nicely alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
DeRozan has made $305 million throughout his career. The Nuggets don't have much money to spend, so adding him on an affordable contract could be a strong move. It would also give Denver another proven scorer who could provide a major offensive boost alongside its two-time MVP.
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