Nuggets Should Keep Rising Star Peyton Watson Over Aging LeBron James

Trading a 23-year-old two-way wing for a 41-year-old LeBron would be a foolish move for Denver

Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:22pm

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A recent ESPN report speculated that the Denver Nuggets could trade rising star Peyton Watson to the Los Angeles Lakers in a sign-and-trade deal to acquire LeBron James. However, the author argues this would be an unwise move for the Nuggets, as Watson is a 23-year-old two-way wing just entering his prime, while the 41-year-old James is on the decline, especially on the defensive end. The Nuggets have carefully built a championship-caliber roster around Nikola Jokic, and adding James would disrupt that chemistry while costing them a key piece in Watson.

Why it matters

The Nuggets have meticulously constructed a talented, complementary roster around Nikola Jokic, and trading away a rising young star like Peyton Watson to acquire the aging LeBron James could upset that balance and chemistry. Watson is an excellent two-way player who fits the Nuggets' system, while James, though still productive, is on the downside of his career and may not be the best fit alongside Jokic.

The details

The ESPN report suggested the Nuggets could trade Watson or Cam Johnson to the Lakers in a sign-and-trade deal to land LeBron James. However, this would be a costly move for Denver, as Watson is a restricted free agent who is due for a significant pay raise after posting career highs in points and rebounds this season. Meanwhile, the 41-year-old James is set to make over $50 million next season, making it difficult for the Nuggets to afford both him and Watson. Defensively, Watson has been the superior player in recent seasons, with a higher block rate and better defensive rating than the declining James.

  • Peyton Watson is a restricted free agent after the 2022-23 season.
  • LeBron James is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2023, with a $52.6 million cap hit for the 2022-23 season.

The players

Peyton Watson

A 23-year-old two-way wing player for the Denver Nuggets who is coming into his prime, posting career highs in points and rebounds this season.

LeBron James

A 41-year-old superstar forward for the Los Angeles Lakers who is nearing the end of his Hall of Fame career, though he is still a productive scorer.

Nikola Jokic

The Denver Nuggets' star center and a leading MVP candidate, known for his elite passing, shooting, and all-around skills.

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What they’re saying

“Peyton Watson has gotten so much better. He clearly has a high-level processor. When you have a high-level processor in this league, it's an advantage. It's very understated, but a very big advantage.”

— Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors star

What’s next

The Nuggets will need to decide whether to offer Peyton Watson a lucrative contract extension this offseason to keep him in Denver long-term.

The takeaway

The Nuggets should resist the temptation to trade away their promising young talent in Peyton Watson to acquire the aging LeBron James. Watson's two-way skills and upside fit the Nuggets' system better than James at this stage of their careers, and keeping Watson is crucial to maintaining the chemistry and balance of the Nuggets' championship-caliber roster built around Nikola Jokic.