As one of the top remaining free agents, Jake Fischer of 'The Stein Line' answered the question everyone wants to know regarding Peyton Watson: “What’s the annual salary he is seeking?” Turns out, Watson is reportedly looking for a deal “north of $25 million.” At the moment, that’s not a number the LA Clippers’ front office can just pull out of their back pocket. However, there’s still a pathway to adding the 23-year-old to the team: renounce Bennedict Mathurin's rights, and sign-and-trade Derrick Jones Jr. to the Denver Nuggets.
This will do the trick, and in the process, the Clippers shouldn’t hesitate, even for a second. Why? Because the player that Watson is, in his young career, will aid the current roster beyond imagination, making him worth every bit of the money he desires in free agency.
While moving on from Jones Jr. and Mathurin won’t be easy, it’s Watson we’re talking about
The LA Clippers, and the entire fanbase, have love for Derrick Jones Jr. and Bennedict Mathurin.
Mathurin just arrived at the Clippers at the trade deadline, and although the front office was aware he would soon enter restricted free agency, they most likely acquired him with the intention to re-sign.
Jones Jr., on the other hand, is someone who went above and beyond for LA’s side of town. From stepping up when the team was short-staffed to starring in any role Tyronn Lue gave him, the veteran did it all.
As a result, seeing them both dominate in another jersey next season won’t be an easy watch.
But what Clipper Nation, and everyone within the organization, must remember, is who the prize is: Peyton Watson. He is a lethal two-way wing, coming off the best season of his career, where he would’ve, without a doubt, been in the conversation for the league’s Most Improved Player award had the game-requirement been met.
For context, throughout 54 contests, Watson posted 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, shooting 49.1% from the field and 41.1% from beyond the arc.
In addition, for the third-seeded Denver Nuggets, Watson recorded the fourth-best net rating on the team(min. 50 games played).
That’s extremely impressive for someone with little experience in the league.
So, though the cost of adding Watson might be spending $25 million, or possibly more, and moving on from Watson and Jones Jr., it’s a smart decision at the end of the day, as the 2023 NBA champion is elite at what he does.
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