The Nuggets ended their season with a first-round exit against the Timberwolves. While the loss is already taking a toll, new details suggest that decisions from last season have only added to the frustration.
Following their 2023 NBA Championship win, things have declined in Denver. Although they replaced Michael Malone with David Adelman, the Nuggets remained largely loyal to their roster. However, recent developments point to possible regret.
Both Christian Braun and Peyton Watson were part of the Nuggets’ title-winning roster. Braun has generally played a bigger role than his guard teammate, but after the 25-year-old suffered an ankle injury this season, Watson found an opportunity to prove his value.
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He averaged 14.6 points per game compared to Braun’s 12 points per game. Watson’s consistency has reportedly led to regret within the Nuggets’ management for prioritizing Braun over him for a contract extension. Braun signed a five-year, $125 million extension last summer, while Watson is yet to negotiate his deal.
According to Marc Stein, the Nuggets’ front office may be “kicking themselves” for extending Braun instead of Watson. Moreover, Denver also needs to address a potential contract extension for Nikola Jokic later this summer.
After another playoff exit, the Nuggets will look to target top talent to support their three-time MVP. Securing Watson’s future could now become a priority as they also hope for continued development from Braun.
