In the grand scheme of things, the LA Clippers have a long list of reasons to pursue Peyton Watson, who is currently a restricted free agent. He’s practically elite on the defensive side of the ball, at just 23 years old, and is slowly evolving his offensive skillset into one that could put his name into the All-Star conversation in the near future. Securing him as part of a young core like the one the Clippers have would, without a doubt, be an excellent move for the organization.
However, another reason should be added: Watson, according to his Instagram story, managed to work his way up to 219.6 pounds, which is nearly a 20-pound increase over his official weight before the 2025-26 season.
Peyton Watson reveals that he’s gained nearly TWENTY pounds this offseason, going from 200 lbs to 219.6 lbs.
— APHoops (@APH00PS) August 4, 2026
Getting ready to be a starting PF for another team? 👀 pic.twitter.com/qcGtvfsMtm
This added muscle makes Watson more versatile than he already was in the Clippers’ rotation. Head coach Tyronn Lue could play him at the two, three, or four spots, and have nothing to worry about.
Peyton Watson’s weight gain makes him competent enough to start at PF for the Clippers
Although Rui Hachimura was signed in the offseason, the starting power forward was in question because he struggles on defense and on the glass. Peyton Watson made sense, as he’s phenomenal at guarding his position, but the size he was originally listed at, six-foot-eight and 200 pounds, was a better fit for the small forward slot.
There are no further concerns regarding Watson, though. The 20 pounds he added in the offseason make a night-and-day difference in how helpful he would be to the LA Clippers.
He can now comfortably play shutdown defense in the frontcourt thanks to his lanky, athletic, muscular frame, which, at first glance, is extremely dangerous for opponents around the league.
This only adds to the fact that he’s slowly mastering the art of getting to his spots in the half-court offensively, finding ways to make an impact when the ball isn’t in his hands, and generating extra possessions.
He averaged 14.6 points, shooting 49.1% from the field and 41.1% from distance, on just 10.8 attempts per game, which ranked fourth on the Denver Nuggets last season. He also had the fifth-highest usage percentage on the team.
That said, a stronger build for Watson means the Clippers should make an even stronger pursuit of him. No matter how it happens, the bottom line is the rising star must be in LA before next season begins.
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