Bill Simmons rips Nuggets approach on Peyton Watson contract

The Denver Nuggets are facing a challenging offseason following their disappointing Game 6 playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2025-26 campaign. The team struggled without several key rotation players, particularly athletic wing Peyton Watson, who missed the entire postseason due to injury. Watson will soon enter restricted free agency, and his market value is expected to surge.

According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, multiple front-office executives around the league anticipate that the 23-year-old forward could command a substantial new contract.

Some experts predict an annual average value exceeding $24 million, while others believe he could secure a deal in the $30 million per year range, compelling Denver to create significant financial space to retain him.

This impending financial challenge and the potential need for Denver to trade players to accommodate a new deal have sparked strong reactions from prominent media figures.

Analyst Bill Simmons, as shared by Legion Hoops on X, criticized the front office’s cautious financial strategy regarding Watson’s future.

Simmons argued that ownership should disregard luxury tax considerations to maintain the championship core built around superstar center Nikola Jokić, stating, “Why do they have to trade anybody to sign Peyton Watson? You have Jokic on your team, pay everyone, F*** off.  Kroenke has a gazillion dollars, just keep everybody and pay Peyton Watson. Your owner is super rich; what are we doing?”

Bill Simmons on the Nuggets:

“Why do they have to trade anybody to sign Peyton Watson? You have Jokic in your team, pay everyone, F*** off. Kroenke has a gazillion dollars, just keep everybody AND pay Peyton Watson. Your owner is super rich what are we doing?”

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— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 31, 2026

This reluctance to spend aggressively has also raised skepticism among rival team executives, who predict that the Nuggets will try to cut costs.

In an ESPN column by Tim Bontemps, a rival Western Conference scout noted that retaining Watson, along with the rest of the current roster, would push the franchise deep into luxury tax territory.

The scout took a direct jab at the ownership’s history of fiscal conservatism, stating that while the team could easily absorb the tax penalty, everyone knows how the Kroenkes operate.

As a result, the scout expects Denver to trade away players like Christian Braun or Cameron Johnson instead of paying a premium, despite the clear depth issues the team faced without Watson.

The post Bill Simmons rips Nuggets approach on Peyton Watson contract appeared first on ClutchPoints.