Wealthy Paul says he discouraged Peyton Watson from returning for the 2026 playoffs as a result of the Denver Nuggets ahead was nonetheless recovering from a Grade 2 left hamstring pressure, despite the fact that Watson wished to play.
Talking on his “Recreation Over” podcast with Max Kellerman, the Klutch Sports activities CEO stated Watson wanted safety from the stress to return in the course of the postseason whereas approaching a serious contract determination.
“You’ve acquired to recollect, he didn’t end the season. He didn’t play within the playoffs,” Paul stated, through Arthur Hill of Hoops Rumors. “He was coping with a hamstring damage, gentle tissue damage. And whenever you’re coping with these accidents, you need to be very cautious in your return.”
Paul defined that Watson’s aggressive instincts and contract state of affairs created further stress to get again on the court docket.
“Guys need to play, and you need to shield them from themselves in that second,” Paul stated. “Since you’re up for a contract and it’s the playoffs, and I’ve had a reasonably good yr, so I must play. And it’s essential to guard that.”
Watson was having his finest NBA season earlier than struggling the hamstring damage in early February. The 23-year-old appeared in 54 regular-season video games, together with 40 begins, and averaged 14.6 factors, 4.9 rebounds and a couple of.1 assists in 29.6 minutes per sport.
His offensive development was notably important. Watson shot 49.1% from the sphere and a career-best 41.1% from three-point vary on 3.6 makes an attempt per sport, producing a 56.0% efficient field-goal share.
After lacking greater than six weeks, Watson returned for 5 video games with restricted minutes earlier than Denver shut him down once more in early April. He didn’t seem within the postseason because the third-seeded Nuggets misplaced to the Minnesota Timberwolves in six video games within the first spherical.
The choice turned extra notable as a result of Aaron Gordon was additionally managing a hamstring challenge and performed in three playoff video games. In response to Hill, some members of the Nuggets group believed Watson might have returned, whereas Paul’s feedback point out his camp most well-liked a extra cautious method.
Watson’s absence additionally got here as he entered an important contract summer season. He reportedly sought a deal in the range of $25 million annually, whereas Denver’s latest offer was reportedly worth $70 million over four years.
Denver ultimately moved Watson to Cleveland in a sign-and-trade accomplished round August 20, giving the Cavaliers one other starting-caliber wing after their 52-30 season and run to the Jap Convention Finals.
