​Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesnPeyton Watson’s time with the Denver Nuggets ended after a very strange few months. Following the best season of his career, the 23-year-old forward entered restricted free agency, waited most of the summer for his situation to be solved, and eventually left Denver for a four-year, $88.0 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers in a sign-and-trade, saying farewell to the team he had played for since being drafted.nWatson had earned a much bigger contract after averaging career highs of 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 2025-26. He also shot 41.1% from three while showing his elite defensive level, averaging 0.9 steals and 1.1 blocks as a 6-foot-8 wing.nThe main problem for the Nuggets was financial restrictions. Denver was already dealing with the second apron and had added more salary after matching the Thunder’s two-year, $12.0 million offer sheet for Spencer Jones. Keeping Watson at more than $20.0 million per season became very difficult, and after almost three months without a deal, Cleveland finally stepped in.nSpeaking on the Curious Mike podcast with former Nuggets teammate Michael Porter Jr., Watson said leaving Denver brought mixed emotions after spending the first four years of his NBA career with the team.n“It was a bittersweet feeling when the news finally came. I remember during the summer, just going through the ins and outs of negotiations and talks with the team and my agents and understanding that we had gotten to a point where Denver was between a rock and a hard place financially. Everybody was aware of them facing the tax bill,” Watson initially stated.n“The way things shook out at the beginning with free agency, a few teams had cap space, but then the cap just dried up super quick. A lot of teams were not willing to go through the war that restricted free agency is. There are still some really good restricted free agents on the market,” he continued, with Jalen Duren as the main one remaining. “I’m lucky to have gotten a resolution with my situation as fast as I did. Like we talked about, this could have stretched out all summer,” he stated.nThe contract situation wasn’t the only issue around Watson during his final months with the Nuggets. His right hamstring injury also became a major story after he missed Denver’s entire first-round series against the Timberwolves, a series the Nuggets eventually lost.nESPN’s Anthony Slater reported in August that the Nuggets believed Watson’s upcoming restricted free agency played a role in his decision to sit out. The story grew even bigger after his agent, Rich Paul, discussed Watson’s injury on the Game Over podcast.n“Guys want to play, and you have to protect them from themselves in that moment,” Paul said. His comments led to more questions about whether Watson’s contract situation was part of the reason he didn’t return, but Watson strongly disagreed with that idea and explained what