NBA Notes: Nuggets, Peyton Watson, Lakers, Luka Doncic, Raptors

Nuggets

Peyton Watson remains unsigned, and the reason appears pretty simple. The Nuggets have made offers in the range of $16 million to $18 million per year, NBA insider Marc Stein said on the DNVR Sports Nuggets podcast.

That lines up with what Stein reported last week, when he wrote that Denver’s best offer to Watson was believed to be around four years and $70 million.

“I’ve consistently heard the offers are in the $16-to-$18MM range, in terms of annual average value,” Stein said. “You can understand if you’re in Peyton Watson’s shoes, you wouldn’t want that. You would want more. But the uncomfortable reality of restricted free agency is it’s incumbent on the restricted free agent to go out and generate more.”

That’s the issue for Watson. Restricted free agency is rarely comfortable for the player, especially when the market has already mostly dried up.

Watson, meanwhile, appears to be doing his part physically. He revealed on Instagram that he is up to 220 pounds after being listed at 200 last season, via DNVR Sports.

So the Nuggets still value him. Watson clearly believes he is worth more. For now, that is where things sit.

Lakers

Luka Doncic’s Lakers minicamp in Slovenia is still on, and it sounds like almost everyone is going.

According to Stein, Doncic has chartered a plane and is expected to bring nearly the entire roster to his native country later this month.

The lone absence is expected to be first-round pick Cameron Carr, who has a scheduling conflict because of official NBA rookie orientation.

Otherwise, the Lakers are expected to have full attendance.

That is notable for a team trying to build chemistry quickly after a busy offseason. Doncic is now the center of the franchise, and this is the type of thing stars do when they want to set a tone before training camp even begins.

It also gives newcomers Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton another chance to get comfortable with a group that will look much different than last season’s Lakers.

Raptors

The Raptors are adding another big man to the mix.

Free agent center Trey Jemison has agreed to a two-way contract with Toronto, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes. Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors relayed the agreement and noted that the Raptors had an open two-way spot, so no corresponding roster move is needed.

Jemison, 6-foot-10, has bounced between the NBA and G League since going undrafted out of UAB in 2023. He has spent time with the Wizards, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Lakers and Knicks.

He appeared in 13 games for the Knicks last season, totaling 13 points and 18 rebounds in limited minutes for the eventual NBA champions. He spent more time with Westchester in the G League, averaging 8.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 blocks in 31 games.

Jemison joins Chucky Hepburn and 2026 second-round pick Jaden Bradley as Toronto’s two-way players.

He gives the Raptors some added depth behind Jakob Poeltl and Trayce Jackson-Davis, and this will be his final season of two-way eligibility because he already has three years of NBA service.