The Los Angeles Lakers have known interest in signing pending restricted free agent Peyton Watson. Watson was one of the breakout players of the 2025-26 season, thriving on both ends of the floor before a hamstring injury derailed his momentum.
Restricted free agency status unfortunately complicates matters for interested teams, but the Lakers may have a better shot at stealing Watson from the rival Nuggets than previously presumed.
Denver is fresh off of suffering a first-round exit from the 2026 NBA Playoffs. It marked a third consecutive season during which the Nuggets failed to reach the Conference Finals and caused many to question if the team can realistically proceed with the roster in place.
In a surprising but also perhaps inevitable twist of fate, Nuggets president and governor Josh Kroenke revealed that trading Nikola Jokic is the only option he won't consider.
Josh Kroenke on upcoming Nuggets offseason:
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) May 8, 2026
"I think that everything is gonna be on the table outside of trading Nikola [Jokic]." pic.twitter.com/GwvUW1Lud7
That doesn't necessarily mean that the Nuggets are going to trade anyone or let pending free agents walk, but the Lakers certainly seem more likely to be able to acquire Watson than ever before.
Nuggets president says no player is guaranteed to return but Jokic
Watson finished the 2025-26 season averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 blocks, 0.9 steals, and 1.5 three-point field goals made per game. He did so while shooting the lights out at a clip of .491/.411/.730 across 54 appearances and 40 starts.
Beyond the numbers, Watson thrived as both an on-ball and off-ball defender who routinely tackled the challenge of defending an opponent's best player.
The harsh reality facing Denver, however, is that re-signing Watson would be a costly endeavor that would further prohibit the team from making additions to the roster. Having lost in the second round or earlier three years running in a deep Western Conference, it's all but impossible to ignore the need for some degree of change.
The Nuggets are just $2,579,572 clear of the second apron, per Spotrac, however, and Watson is one of several pending free agents who could compromise the little flexibility they have.
With Kroenke firmly stating that the Nuggets are open to trades, a sign-and-trade for Watson suddenly feels like a realistic possibility. That's a captivating truth to consider, as the Lakers desperately need young and athletic wings who can defend and shoot.
Nothing is set in stone, but with Denver seemingly willing to explore its options, the Lakers' dream of signing Watson is more realistic than ever before.
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