Stan Kroenke buying Angels for $4 billion has fans wondering about Peyton Watson trade

Stan Kroenke, the owner of the Denver Nuggets, made massive headlines this week when it was announced that he had purchased MLB franchise the Los Angeles Angels. Kroenke owns multiple pro sports franchises and has already spent quite a bit of money on the Los Angeles Rams and the Arsenal soccer team. After his latest expenditure with the Angels, Nuggets fans were left wondering why the team didn’t pony up the money for Peyton Watson.

Peyton Watson was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers via sign-and-trade, and his departure left the Nuggets without one of their most promising young players. Perhaps the most promising one on the roster. Upon learning of Stan Kroenke’s agreement to purchase the Angels, Nuggets fans took to social media to voice their disbelief over the team opting to let the former first round pick walk.

Either the Nuggets are the red headed step child or the CBA really screwed over what could’ve been

— Hash n Hoops (@HashnHoops) September 1, 2026

But signing Payton Watson was too much?

— Cholokev (@Cholokev1) September 1, 2026

So that’s where Peyton Watson’s money went…

— Three Level Scorer (@3LevelScorer) September 1, 2026

Tells us they don't think Peyton is worth the money

— Dan Cooper (@JP_Stone) September 1, 2026

It’s probably important to note that the Nuggets are the only team in the NBA that are at the second apron line. And re-signing or not re-signing Watson has little to do with what Kroenke spends on his other sports franchises.

But losing Watson is still a major blow for a team that’s trying to get back to contender status in the Western Conference and not waste Nikola Jokic’s prime years.

Despite missing the playoffs due to injury, Watson had a career season, appearing in 54 games, including 40 starts, at a little over 29 minutes per game. He averaged a career-best 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists with splits of 49.1 percent shooting from the field, 41.1 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 73 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

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