If you're a Los Angeles Lakers fan hoping that GM Rob Pelinka goes after Peyton Watson this summer, you'll love a new update from NBA insider Jake Fischer. Writing for The Stein Line (subscription required), Fischer just revealed that league sources see the Lakers as a legitimate suitor for Watson this coming offseason, alongside the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets.
According to Fischer's report, the Lakers, Bulls, and Nets are seen as the teams that will have the necessary cap space to poach the 23-year-old Watson away from the Denver Nuggets (Watson becomes a restricted agent this summer).
Peyton Watson-Lakers buzz isn't getting any quieter
“League sources have already identified the Lakers, Bulls and Nets as potential suitors that are likely to have the requisite spending power to present an offer sheet that causes angst in the Rocky Mountains," Fischer wrote. "The Stein Line has learned, in fact, that both the Lakers and Bulls registered trade interest in Watson leading up to the in-season deadline for deals on Feb. 5."
Watson has been linked to the Lakers for many months. ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported back in February that LA's front office was already discussing a plan to target Watson in free agency.
Peyton Watson might've been created in a lab to win championships alongside Luka Doncic
It makes all the sense in the world that Watson would be the Lakers' No. 1 wing target in free agency. That's because he combines all of the qualities they are looking for into one player: Size and length for position (Watson is 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan), defensive prowess, athleticism, youth, and even 3-point shooting (41.1% from 3 this year).
If the Lakers failed to land Watson, they'd need to sign at least two wings to make up for what he could've brought to the table. Of course, all of Watson's winning qualities are also what make him a player that the Nuggets would love to retain, as well as a player they've sorely missed in the playoffs thus far.
Watson has been dealing with a hamstring injury that's kept him out of action since April 1; ironically, a nearly identical timeline to Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic's absences.
Peyton Watson is probably the third bullet point on Rob Pelinka's summer to-do list
The Lakers need to sort out LeBron James' future as soon as the offseason begins. ESPN's Brian Windhorst has suggested that LA can't move on to any other moves before LeBron is dealt with. There's also Reaves' expected max deal to take care of.
But it's not outlandish to imagine that Pelinka's third priority (chronologically speaking) is a full-on pursuit of Watson. The Lakers have needs at the center position, too, but pulling off a deal for Watson would do much to solidify a victorious offseason for Pelinka from the get-go.
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