Lakers hoping this is good Peyton Watson news ahead of free agency

If Los Angeles Lakers fans were looking for a sign that Peyton Watson may want to wear the purple and gold, they certainly might believe they got it on Wednesday.

Watson took part in the Klutch Sports Group "Pro Day," which the agency held at the Lakers' practice facility.

And not only was Watson hooping in the Lakers' complex, but he was wearing Kobes on his feet. Snooping even a step further, at least in the pictures circulating on social media, Watson didn't have any Denver Nuggets gear on, either.

In the Lakers facility wearing Kobe’s and not wearing any Nuggets gear, nah PWat i’m shaking big bro can’t wait for that Shams tweet😭💜💛🤞🏽@peytonwatson_ https://t.co/jHOf4r3Eks pic.twitter.com/9yF8fRd3ql

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It'd be far from easy for the Lakers to end up with Watson this offseason.

He's a restricted free agent. That means the Nuggets have the "right of first refusal" on any offer sheet Watson gets. If the Lakers offer Watson four years for $100 million, the Nuggets can simply say, "We're matching that" and keep him at that rate.

The easiest way for a new team to win an RFA for themselves is to make a near-outlandish offer that the former team decides isn't worth it, but that wouldn't necessarily be easy for the Lakers to do, either, with all their other contract moving parts this offseason.

It makes sense that Watson will be desirable for someone. The 23-year old broke out in 2025-26. He averaged 14.6 points per game while shooting 41.1% from 3-point range. Watson added averages of 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.

He's from California, having been born in Beverly Hills and played his high school ball in Long Beach. He went to UCLA.

The Lakers may very well be in Watson's future. But this offseason? All fans can do at the moment is read the minimal tea leaves.

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