The Nuggets had a Monday deadline to come to rookie extensions with Christian Braun and Peyton Watson before the season started. They came to a last-minute agreement on a five-year, $125 million deal with Braun, but the deadline came and passed without any deal for Watson.
That means Watson will play out his final season on a rookie deal in Denver, then become a restricted free agent next summer. The Nuggets will have the right to match any offer for Watson, but it’s going to boil down to money, and the owners won’t be willing to pay.