Most of the NBA’s restricted free-agent business has been settled. Three fairly significant names remain.
Jalen Duren, Peyton Watson and Bennedict Mathurin are still unsigned, with each facing a different set of circumstances.
Pistons
Duren is easily the headliner. The 22-year-old earned his first All-Star selection and third-team All-NBA honors after emerging as Detroit’s second-best player during a 60-win season.
That hasn’t resulted in a max contract. The Pistons reportedly haven’t offered Duren the standard 25 percent maximum, much less the 30 percent max for which his All-NBA selection made him eligible.
Meanwhile, no team has enough cap space remaining to simply hand Duren a massive offer sheet.
His biggest leverage may be the nuclear option: Accept the $9.6 million qualifying offer, play out the season and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
That’s a considerable gamble when Detroit is presumably offering significant guaranteed money.
Nuggets
Denver appears confident it can retain Watson, whom Tony Jones of The Athletic reports the organization values “significantly.”
The Bucks, Clippers and Hawks have all been linked to Watson, but none can simply sign him outright. A sign-and-trade would likely be required.
Money could become an issue for Denver. ESPN’s Bobby Marks estimated that if Watson receives a deal beginning around $23 million and the Nuggets retain Spencer Jones, Denver’s payroll could reach approximately $246 million, resulting in an estimated $231 million luxury-tax bill.
That’s some serious change for keeping the band together.
Clippers
Mathurin’s situation remains perhaps the quietest of the three.
The former No. 6 overall pick hasn’t generated much reported interest elsewhere, while the Clippers have also explored Watson as an option. That could eventually bring Los Angeles back around to Mathurin.
Bottom line? Three of the summer’s biggest restricted free agents remain stuck in basketball’s version of a staring contest.
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
