The Nuggets had some tough decisions to make in the offseason, with the last one coming down to negotiating rookie extensions. With a financial crunch coming, Denver decided they could only extend one of Peyton Watson or Christian Braun, and they opted to pay the more proven and established Braun.
That means Watson entered this season in the final year of his current deal, slated to hit restricted free agency this summer. The Nuggets will have matching rights, but given their salary cap situation, it will almost surely require some major cost-cutting maneuvers to be able to carve out a respectable deal for P-Wat.