Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported on Wednesday that teams with available cap space over the summer are "already preparing interest" (subscription required) for soon-to-be restricted free agent Peyton Watson, specifically listing the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 23-year-old Nuggets forward is enjoying the best season of his young career after Denver didn't sign him to an extension by the October deadline. He's averaging 14.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.0 steals in 30.1 minutes per game, shooting 49.9% from the field and 41.1% from three. Except for his blocks per game (he averaged 1.4 last season), all of those numbers are career bests.
The Nuggets have been hit with injury after injury, including to Nikola Jokić, who hyperextended his knee on Dec. 29 and has been out since. Jamal Murray has been playing on another level, which could result in his first All-Star nod, but outside of him, Watson is the second-biggest reason why Denver has gone 9-6 without its superstar center.
Last Thursday, Watson recorded a career-high 35 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field and 6-of-8 from three in a 107-97 win over the Wizards (yes, the Wizards, but still). He also had eight rebounds, four blocks, three assists, and two steals. It was yet another performance that his agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, will highlight this summer as he negotiates his breakout client's next contract.
Lakers could target Peyton Watson this summer in restricted free agency
The Nuggets will have the chance to match any offer he receives this summer, but they're already projected to be over the second tax apron, and that isn't factoring in Watson's next contract. Denver has made it known that it wants to keep its homegrown talent (duh), but will the front office be willing to pay as much as he could command?
Utah will be one of a handful of teams this summer that will have the cap space to go after Watson, and maybe the Jazz will make a run at him, not just to mess with a division rival, although they could up his price even higher in the process.
Los Angeles needs to be right there in the mix for Watson, not just because it'd also be fun for the Lakers to screw over the Nuggets. He's turned into the kind of player that every team around the league should want, with his off-ball scoring, improved three-point shot, ball-handling, and ability to guard multiple positions. He can do more than dunk and block shots.
Not that this matters, as Watson can't choose whether he stays or which team he goes to (money talks), but you can bet that the Long Beach, Cali. native would love to suit up for the Lakers. It'd be a full-circle moment, as he grew up as an LA fan.
Bringing Watson back to Los Angeles makes too much sense.