Nuggets not expected to extend recent first-round pick before next season

The Denver Nuggets made some big changes this offseason, and it could squeeze a young player out of town.

Over the past several weeks, the Nuggets have been one of the most active teams in the entire league. While they didn’t necessarily steal all the headlines with a trade for a superstar, they’ve steadily made some moves that could help them compete for another NBA title next season.

Although it will be tough for them to get past the young Oklahoma City Thunder, deals for Cam Johnson, Jonas Valanciunas and others should help Denver be in the mix. Of course, with some big offseason deals, the Nuggets are replacing some of the players who played big minutes last season.

Peyton Watson is one of the players who could certainly see a dip in playing time after these recent moves. While his spot as an athletic forward should be relatively safe still, the Nuggets could try out some different lineups after their big moves.

Considering Watson could be somewhat expendable, the Nuggets might not be eager to sign him to a rookie extension this offseason. The Athletic’s John Hollinger projects a potential Watson extension to be in the range of three years for $25-30 million, but the former Grizzlies executive doesn’t believe the Nuggets are likely to make any deal happen.

Although Watson could certainly be an important piece in Denver next season, he is likely in “prove it” territory. After a shaky first three years in Denver, Watson likely needs a big year to get a big deal next offseason.