The Los Angeles Lakers are going big-name hunting for their top free agent targets this NBA offseason to pair with Luka Doncic and likely Austin Reaves for the next few years, and one name they’ve been linked to for a while is restricted free agent Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets.
Watson is coming off a career year, and while he was sidelined with injuries in the final stretch of the season, he remains a top three-and-D free agent target for the Lakers this summer.
While there was previously hope that Los Angeles would land Watson, that is looking less and less likely as time goes on. With some recent news about the Nuggets’ plans for the 23-year-old, the Lakers could miss out on him, whom they’ve had their eyes on for a while.
Lakers Get Bad News On Peyton Watson Free Agency
GettyThe Los Angeles Lakers could make a sign-and-trade deal with the Denver Nuggets swapping LeBron James and Peyton Watson.
The only reason Watson could potentially be available for the Lakers is due to Denver choosing to first resign Christian Braun to a new deal last summer, setting up Watson for restricted free agency this year.
With that, writing for ESPN in February, Dave McMenamin named the wing as a player the Lakers would be ready to go after this offseason.
“The Lakers have also privately discussed restricted free agents Tari Eason and Peyton Watson, sources told ESPN, and could land the latter if Denver, which already has $215 million in salary committed to returning players for next season, doesn’t match the offer sheet,” Dave McMenamin wrote.
In the time since, others have reported a similar story, with the Lakers named as one of a new teams ready to sign Watson in free agency if the Nuggets aren’t willing to spend.
With that, if the Nuggets weren’t willing to pay Watson his free agency market price, there was the expectation the Lakers would be ready to pounce. However, in the time since, it has become increasingly likely that Denver will enter the luxury tax to sign him to a new deal.
According to Bleacher Report, Watson is expected to head back to the Nuggets on a five-year, $145 million deal, which might be too high an asking price for the Lakers to match or exceed.
Denver Looks Keen On Keeping Watson
GettyPeyton Watson #8 of the Denver Nuggets grabs a rebound against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on January 22, 2026 in Washington, DC.
As time has gone on, the Nuggets appear like they want to keep Watson in free agency for the long-term. It might require them to make some other moves, but if it means that a rival West team like the Lakers can’t land him, it might be in their best to keep him on the roster, even in a slight overpay.
“The Denver Nuggets have Watson’s restricted rights, putting the team in the sole position to decide his fate,” Eric Pincus wrote on Watson’s free agency for Bleacher Report. “Other teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, or Chicago Bulls could make a run at Watson with an offer sheet, but the Nuggets have the right to match.”
Additionally, speaking on his podcast, Bill Simmons says the Nuggets should do whatever it takes to maximize the time they have left with Nikola Jokic, and that includes bringing back Watson on a new deal in free agency this summer.
“Why do they have to trade anybody to sign Peyton Watson? (Expletive) off!” Simmons said. “You have Jokic in your team, (expletive). Pay everybody. Clip this out. Denver fans, Kroenke’s got a kajillion dollars, just pay Peyton Watson and keep everybody. Your owner is super rich. What are we doing?”
Despite the Lakers’ links to Watson in free agency, his going back to his hometown doesn’t feel as likely as it did earlier in the season. However, if Denver isn’t winning to pay him a deal worth more than $100 million, that could open the door for Los Angeles to swoop in and give him the money he wants, whether it’s in restricted free agency or a sign-and-trade.
If Watson doesn’t head to Southern California, the Lakers have eyes for several other three-and-D free agent targets, but missing out on him would be a big blow. They have money to spend this offseason, but if he does head back to the Nuggets, it wouldn’t be good news for a Lakers team that could desperately use his skillset for the next few years.
Like HEAVY’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on HEAVY
The post Los Angeles Lakers Get Troubling News On Top Free Agent Target appeared first on HEAVY.