Denver Gazette beat writer Vinny Benedetto takes you around the NBA and inside the Nuggets locker room:

NBA Insider

The smaller of Denver’s dominoes in restricted free agency fell Sunday.

The Nuggets decided to match the two-year contract worth $12 million that Oklahoma City offered reserve forward Spencer Jones over the weekend. That leaves Peyton Watson’s situation as the last one standing from last season’s roster.

There’s reportedly a significant gap between what Denver’s front office is willing to offer and what Watson’s camp wants, which is an extension closer to what Christian Braun received last year. Braun’s five-year deal came with an average annual salary of $25 million.

The problem for Watson and his Klutch representation is a lack of leverage. Most teams have used their cap space. Memphis has the most cap space left of any team, and the Grizzlies only have $5.2 million with which to work. The taxpayer midlevel exception that’s available to other teams still comes up short of Watson’s desired salary. It’s increasingly unlikely any team produces an offer sheet in the range of Watson’s desired salary.

Matching Jones’ offer moved the Nuggets into the second apron. That makes a sign-and-trade deal even more difficult to facilitate since Denver couldn’t receive a player in return.

That leaves a couple of options for the 23-year-old who averaged career highs almost across the board. After Watson started 24 games across his first three seasons with the Nuggets, injuries paved the way for him to start 40 games last season. That number would’ve been higher if not for a couple of hamstring strains, the second of which prevented the wing from playing in the playoffs.

If Watson wants to bet on himself, he can play next season under the qualifying offer Denver extended to make him a restricted free agent worth $6.5 million. If that’s the route Watson takes, he would be an unrestricted free agent next summer, free to sign with any team of his choosing. That route comes with significant risk. Another injury-riddled year or a less productive season could lead to a disastrous financial outcome for Watson.

 The other option is to take whatever extension Denver is willing to offer before the start of the season. The sides could meet in the middle with a shorter extension that would allow Watson to test the free-agent market sooner while still getting the big raise he earned.

Braun and the Nuggets agreed to an extension a week before the start of last season. There doesn’t appear to be any urgency on Watson’s or the front office’s end to tackle the biggest domino left in Denver’s offseason.

What I’m thinking

If ownership wants to beat the cheap allegations and show Nikola Jokic they’re serious about maximizing the remainder of his prime, the Nuggets should start the season in the second apron.

Find a way to bring back Watson and add another point guard – either on a standard contract or two-way deal – to give the roster one more chance to prove it’s a championship contender. If the pricey roster isn’t performing up to expectations, it will be hard to blame ownership for instructing the front office to shed salary before the trade deadline and potentially get out of the aprons altogether.

The Thunder can’t believe their roster is deeper or more talented after trading away Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins to cut costs. San Antonio’s young core will be among the hunted for the first time, and no Western Conference team has reached the Finals in consecutive years since the Warriors did so in 2018 and 2019.

The Kroenkes are staring down a massive tax bill as things stand. They’re more than capable of paying it, but the coaches and players will have to do their part and put pressure on ownership to do just that by performing well.

What I’m following

• The Nuggets are reportedly among the teams interested in signing veteran DeMar DeRozan, who will soon turn 37. He was recently waived by the Kings.
• Jamal Murray spent the weekend in Japan, attending a 3-on-3 tournament and skills competition that was sponsored by New Balance.
• One of Nikola Jokic’s horses won a big race in Serbia. Jokic and his family were on hand to celebrate.
• Former Nugget Kentavious Caldwell-Pope reached a buyout with the Grizzlies and plans to reunite with LeBron James in Philadelphia. James and Caldwell-Pope won a championship together with the Lakers in 2020.
• Mario Hezonja is returning to the NBA with a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the Cavaliers. Hezonja last played in the NBA in 2020 and spent the last four seasons with Spanish club Real Madrid.
• The Kings waived Isaiah Stevens on Monday. The former Colorado State star was on a two-way contract with Sacramento.

What they’re saying

Jones took to LinkedIn — where else? — after the Nuggets matched the Thunder’s offer to retain his services.

“I know some people are confused, and some fans are even upset. How could I sign with a rival?” Jones posted. “I get it. But I also need people to understand something. This is a business. Front offices treat it that way every day, and players have to do the same. I went into free agency with clear priorities: a team that fits my skill set, a championship culture and an organization I believe in. Both Denver and OKC checked those boxes. Either way, I was landing somewhere that made sense.”

“Heading over to LinkedIn to take down job opening for Nuggets wing,” Kroenke Sports and Entertainment president of team and media operations Kevin Demoff posted on X after the Nuggets matched the offer sheet.