On a spreadsheet, this looks good. But this is not a good look.
From a financial standpoint, it made sense to let him move on, convinced he is not worth the four-year, $88-million contract given to him by Cleveland. The Nuggets remain the only team in the second apron. So they were not going to pay Watson.
The problem is the entire offseason has been lost in translation. The Nuggets appear detached from reality, lacking a clear direction.
One day, they are going for it, matching Oklahoma City’s $11.75 million offer sheet for Spencer Jones, a move that spiked their luxury tax bill by $32 million. The next, they are driving Watson to the airport in exchange for Julian Reese, who will be waived, and a 2031 first-round draft pick and a second-rounder in 2032.
The first person who can articulate the Nuggets’ plan this summer gets free tickets to Elitch’s and a game-used ice pack and Ace bandage signed by Aaron Gordon.
Unless the Nuggets believed Watson quit in the playoffs — he was officially out with a hamstring injury — then they should have kept him. A disgruntled Watson playing on the qualifying offer is better than what this multi-team, money-laundering deal delivered.
The Nuggets needed Watson’s athleticism, his two-way skillset, his ability to create off the dribble. They provided runway to prove himself when Jokic missed 16 games, and their reward is a cheesy Hotels.com commercial and the bile taste in their mouth every time they realize Zeke Nnaji remains on the roster.
I would love to have seen Nikola Jokic’s reaction to this move. “So let me get this straight. We got no players. And the draft picks are available when I am 36 and 37 years old?”
It is a failure.
There is no argument to construct otherwise, save for intel that Watson, 23, could have played in the postseason and staged Operation Shutdown. Eyebrows were raised in April when Gordon was dragging himself up and down the court on one leg, and Watson was watching from the bench.
He played on April 1. And that was it. There was talk he was working his way back. That he was practicing. Then he wasn’t.
I don’t know what happened. I know the Nuggets’ chances of beating the Timberwolves nose-dived without him.
So after a game of chicken, of the market not responding to Watson, the Nuggets chose the easy way out. Fine. Then, why not demand Cleveland include Jaylon Tyson in the deal?
For those saying the Nuggets had no other choice because the luxury tax bill would have exceeded $200 million. That is not the case. They could have shipped out Cam Johnson early in the offseason, leaving room to absorb Watson’s new contract.
As depressing as it sounds, it would have been easier to stomach a bad deal for Johnson than Watson. Watson was their guy. They drafted him. They developed him. They deserved to benefit from a few prime years.
Instead, they get to flash fake smiles that they love Christian Braun — hopefully he bounces back from his ankle injury — Julian Strawther and DaRon Holmes II.
Is it possible for the Nuggets to re-hire Calvin Booth so they can fire him again?
In an offseason that demanded improvement given the upper crust in the Western Conference — San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Minnesota — the Nuggets lacked creativity and imagination.
They brought the band back. This was admirable a year ago. Not this summer.
Jamal Murray, Jokic, Gordon and Johnson are terrific — when healthy. Murray, Jokic, Gordon and Johnson are dynamic — when available.
Sequels rarely live up to expectations. And as Hollywood themes go, the Nuggets are giving off tiki idol Brady Bunch vibes.
Sure, they could use the first-rounder to acquire a better player than Watson. But the way this offseason has transpired, it is more likely they attach the pick to move Nnaji.
According to reports, the Nuggets have turned their attention to signing free agent DeMar DeRozan. He is 37.
When Josh Kroenke said everything was on the table at the end of the season presser, did he mean Bengay, heating pads, insoles and arch supports?
DeRozan can still score. But not sure if you are aware, putting the ball in the basket is not the Nuggets’ problem. Preventing it from going in is the issue.
I am not going to bore you with the apron problems the Nuggets are facing. The NBA demands that fans are CPAs to understand the salary cap.
However, one thing is easy to see. By not going for it — and keeping Spencer Jones and signing DeRozan does not qualify — they are wasting another year of Jokic’s prime.
What makes this different is that he could leave this time.
When Jokic did not agree to a contract extension, kicking the can down the road again, it means he can sign a $359.5 million contract extension next summer. That would be the largest in league history and bring his career earnings within squinting distance of one billion.
Jokic clearly likes money. Not as much as horses. But his affection for the dollar is real. Good for him. And no one can pay him more than Denver.
But his future is now a story as the Nuggets more closely resemble the unraveling of the Bucks in the last years of Giannis Antetokounmpo than the championship team of 2023.
In some ways, the bloated contracts made this a likely conclusion.
But barring Watson bailing on his teammates, the Nuggets are not better without him.
