cavaliers
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The Peyton Watson drama continues as NBA free agency is now in its second full month. The Denver Nuggets‘ athletic wing is still unsigned as a restricted free agent, as the team has gone over the second apron. There are plenty of teams around the league with great interest in the 6’8″ perimeter defender who’s also a transition threat on offense. A sign-and-trade is on the table, if the offer is right.
We’re hearing now, however, that the Cleveland Cavaliers have vaulted to the top of the Watson sweepstakes as the one frontrunner that is a “serious” candidate to land him.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said Monday on NBA Today (h/t Sam Amico, Hoops Wire) that the Cavs are leading the pack in the chase for Watson.
I’m told that (the Cavaliers) are a ‘serious’ candidate to land Peyton Watson. There are other teams interested in Watson as well, but they are a serious candidate… They need to bring in more talent. Look at what the other teams have done in the East. They’ve (all) gotten better, while (the Cavs) have basically stayed stagnant if not taken a step back.
After missing out on another LeBron James reunion, Cavs turn attention to Watson
Cleveland missed out on another LeBron James return, when he decided to take his talents to Philadelphia this summer. So the Cavs turned their attention to other options. And while they’ve been strongly linked to the likes of DeMar DeRozan and Jonathan Kuminga as well, Watson has risen to the top of their wish list. The recent addition of Mario Hezonja apparently won’t be the last move Cleveland makes this offseason.
But how to reach a deal with Denver is the big question. The Nuggets are believed to be seeking a first-round pick and a quality rotation player in a sign-and-trade, per Amico. Watson’s asking price on a new contract, which is reportedly north of $20M per year, makes it almost impossible for Denver to keep him. After matching Spencer Jones’s offer sheet, Denver has entered the dreaded second apron. They now face a $32 million increase in current luxury taxes (from $36M to $68M), per Shams Charania.
Why do the Nuggets not want to be in the second apron? Among the severe restrictions the NBA imposes on a team for being over the second apron:
Lose access to Mid-Level Exception: Only off-season options to add players are vet minimum salaries and draft picks.
Cannot acquire a player via Sign-and-Trade
Cannot aggregate several contracts together in trades to match salary of incoming player
Cannot take back more salary in a trade than you give
Cannot use cash in trades
Cannot sign Bought-Out Veterans whose previous salary exceeded the mid-level exception
The Nuggets are in a bind, and we’ll see if they bend a little on their asking price for Watson.