Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson will move into the starting five ahead of Thursday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The expectation is that Watson is going to see increased involvement going forward. Fellow forward Aaron Gordon (face, hand) is out indefinitely after being attacked by a dog. This doesn't mean Watson will start every game, but he should have a bigger role now. Fantasy managers looking for some help should check the waiver wire and scoop up Watson if he's available.
Nuggets GM Rates Peyton Watson Higher Than Bruce Brown
Denver Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth was apparently quite happy to let Bruce Brown move on in the offseason. He rates Peyton Watson as a better player. "Some of these teams were trying to get Bruce, trying to make it worth it; it's like, just be careful what you wish for," Booth told Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer. "Peyton's bigger. He's longer. He's more athletic. He guards better. He passes better. He doesn't have the experience, and he's not as good offensively yet, but we need defense more than we need offense on our team." Watson was only a bit-part player during his rookie campaign, but he's expected to make a big leap in 2023-24.
Denver Nuggets guard/forward Peyton Watson is full of confidence ahead of his second year in the NBA and feels ready to make a major impact. "I feel like I'm one of the best second-year guys in the league," Watson told Harrison Wind of DNVR. Watson added that "he knows" he is going to have a "big role" this year. The 21-year-old played in only 23 games during his rookie campaign but shined in the Summer League and should have plenty of quality to be a regular in the rotation in 2023-24. The team is counting on him as well, which is evident by the fact that Denver exercised its option on Watson's contract on Wednesday.
Peyton Watson Puts In A Good All-Around Performance
Denver Nuggets small forward Peyton Watson made an impact all over the court in Friday's Summer League clash against Milwaukee, leading his team with 23 points and bagging five rebounds, two assists, three steals, and three blocks. The 20-year-old hit half of his 12 attempts from the field and finished 10-for-13 at the line. Watson was Denver's first-round pick last year, but he ended up playing very little during his rookie campaign. However, the UCLA product is set to play a much larger role in 2023-24, with Bruce Brown having left the team.
Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson had a fairly quiet rookie campaign this past season. The Nuggets selected Watson out of UCLA as the 30th pick of the 2022 NBA Draft. He saw a minimal role with the team, but that could quickly change next season. Apparently, he has impressed coaches and teammates, so he could very well earn himself a bigger role in the rotation. He averaged 3.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 8.1 minutes per game this past season. The Nuggets didn't have much of a role for Watson, but the departure of Bruce Brown should open up more minutes. Brown is a free agent this summer, but has mentioned he'd like to return to Denver. Dynasty managers should keep an eye on Watson if Brown does head elsewhere this summer.
