It is officially the dog days of the NBA offseason. There are still unsigned quality players on the market, like Jalen Duren, but there has been very little buzz around free agency. With teams running out of cap space and mostly finalizing their rosters, free agency has slowed to a halt.
Even though the Detroit Pistons still have to resolve the Jalen Duren stalemate, there is also a situation elsewhere that they can take advantage of. The Denver Nuggets and Peyton Watson are involved in their own staring contest.
The restricted free agent has yet to sign a new deal, and the Nuggets are very cash-strapped to get a deal done. As the only team in the second apron in the NBA, the Nuggets are struggling to get their finances to be able to give Watson the contract he is looking for.
According to the latest reporting, the Nuggets are offering Watson a five-year, $70 million deal. The 23-year-old forward isn't interested in accepting this below-market deal after his breakout 2025-26 campaign. This has created a sign-and-trade market for Watson, with the Bucks, Cavs, and the Clippers as reported suitors.
So far, there have been no reports of the Pistons' interest. But this is something GM Trajan Langdon needs to at least explore.
Pistons should consider a Peyton Watson sign-and-trade
The Pistons didn't make the splashy offseason moves the fans were waiting for. They added more shooting, but whether they upgraded the talent level overall is unclear. Watson may not be the offensive creator that the Pistons desperately needed, but he fills a clear need for Detroit.
First of all, he can fit perfectly into JB Bickerstaff's defensive scheme. He is long, versatile, and physical. He can guard multiple positions and make defensive help plays. Detroit doesn't have enough forward-sized defenders, and Watson can get minutes at either forward spot.
Second, Watson is a much improved offensive player. Not only did he shoot 41.1% from three last season, but he also made strides in creating his own shot. He showed that he could be an efficient, three-level scorer.
This was obviously in a limited sample. Just as Watson was breaking out, he suffered a hamstring injury that forced him to miss 25 of the last 30 games. So, there are understandable concerns about whether Watson's emergence was real and sustainable.
Even if Watson doesn't hit 40% from downtown, his combination of ball skills, size, and athletic tools is rare enough to justify taking a chance. He fits the Pistons' timeline perfectly and can be a long-term piece in Detroit, especially since he would be on a team-friendly deal.
The Pistons would need to engage in a sign-and-trade with the Nuggets. This would likely require the inclusion of a third team since the Nuggets don't want to take back significant salary. The Pistons presumably have to part ways with Ron Holland and/or a first-round pick to make this deal work. Given Watson's fit, upside, and potential new contract, it would be a worthy flier.
Add us as a preferred source on Google