That was just an unsubstantiated report from a beat writer a few days ago and now the media is running with it. I doubt Watson actually feels this way

Watson’s contract demands with Denver probably includes a clause about Braun being put in the dog house, having to buy the team meals on the road, and carry water for them when they’re on the bench.

Eh i don’t think it should be that big of a deal just kinda saying hey my coworker got this at least give me the same

I think the players are mature enough to know that this is just what their agents do to get them good deals… It’s not like Watson is going on record talking shit about Braun.

If Braun is a bro and gives him few millions in cash per year they be good

Braun was paid that much in part due to being integral to us winning our first fucking championship in franchise history. Watson’s ceiling has always been high, but while he was averaging 2.3ppg at UCLA Christian Braun was playing in (and winning) the NCAA championship. While Watson was on the bench as a rookie, Christian Braun was swinging an NBA Finals game.

Let’s be fuckin foreal y’all lol

Braun had proven waaaaay more when he was signing that contract though, Watson is literally a “potential man” who had a small linsanity month against tanking teams.

Braun signed after 15.4ppg on historic efficiency, and was arguably the most consistent nugget not named Joker or Murray that season

Breakout month*

Everyone knows that. Doesn’t mean we can’t criticize it or call them out.

This is more like 2 guys joining a workplace at the same time. One guy hits the ground running and is a contributer to the best year the company has ever had then stays as a consistently hard worker the next 2 years. Then the other guy just kind of exists for a couple years until their boss goes on leave for a month and they do a good job filling in. The 1st guy has gotten a significant promotion but the 2nd guy hasn’t been consistent enough. They have proven they can handle a managerial role in a short period of time but there’s just none of those available here

2025 Christian Braun was a better defender and offensive player than Watson was in his breakout year.

Exactly both things are true. He doesn’t deserve what he’s asking for but he’s totally justified in asking for it

The coworker you are pointing at was performing better pre extension. And the extension happened a year ago. The comparison would’ve make more sense if Braun’s extension happened just now

Except this POV doesn’t make a lot of sense because Braun had one down year due to injuries and Watson had one up MONTH

He just had bad luck in what year his RFA came up. It’s a pretty dry summer for free agency. I suppose the equivalent would be whether or not you got your salary offer in the conditions of a good market for job seekers and a good economy or if you came along when it was all to shit. Like it is now.

But the problem is PWat hasn’t done a better job than Christian Braun.

His coworker definitely not doing worse job than him. Cristian Braun was an important part of a championship team, was mostly available while Payton Watson wasn’t really that available and had a month of good-osh play. He has a potential but he didn’t yet earn that kind of money while CB did(maybe he’s overpaid a bit but that’s the consequence of being a small market team) 

He played better than him for like a month, out of his whole career lol

My job doesn’t have a salary cap

Braun is not objectively worse than watson. Braun was injured and it showed. Watson had one good month. Braun had several good seasons . There is a large difference 

Imagine you had a coworker who makes more than you while doing a worse job than you do.

Watson is not clearly better though. Braun has 2k more NBA minutes, and higher totals in basically every stat. His career Win/Share is almost double Watson’s. It is nice that Watson finally overperformed his rookie contract in his final year, but Braun did it every year. Braun has almost 4x the playoff minutes for a reason.

That’s probably because he went from being a 39% three point shooter who played solid defense to a 30% three point shooter who struggled to stay in front of guys. Beyond that, he got hurt. 

The changing information resulted in a change of opinion which is how that works. 

That said, I do think people have written him off a little too much. He could bounce back 

I also remember when people were ready to let Watson go. It’s funny how him having a good month and Braun getting hurt has completely flipped things on its head.

I got heavily downvoted for saying it was a bad contract lol. You’re right about the Reddit consensus

but the reporting has made his position clear. how could he.

Tell that to Peyton Watson.

He was a Lakers target midway through the season, but ever since FA, they haven’t been linked with him at all.

He’s a pretty high upside gamble, and that’s why teams are willing to engage in these trade talks + seemingly are willing to offer him a deal he wants.

On the other hand, you have a similar aged Kuminga who is an actual UFA that isn’t getting anywhere near this attention, because teams no longer see the same level of upside.

1000%.

They look at their teammates and are basically like “if he didn’t take less money, why should I?”

Raptors fans have been saying that since RJ landed in Toronto. He’s been extension eligible forever. Trade eligible forever. Seems to me like you guys can’t come to a number and nobody is offering enough bagels to trade for him.

1. He won them a Finals game as a rookie. Also his year 3 stats are better than Watson in nearly every category. People are letting an injury riddled year discount what he did the previous 3.

I can only hope other players are watching this play out and will not choose clutch in the future.

Some have, and some have made out damn well. He got Clarkson, KCP, Sexton, Nurkic, GTJ, FVV, and Grant paid. I agree he’s toxic, but he tends to get his guys paid even if he has misses like Noel.

He’s such a POS

This is the max I would go for him and even then I would be uncomfortable. Extremely unproven + hot stretch is not a combination you want when paying big money.

why would nuggets pay him 20 mil next year if they can have him for 6? I would offer ⁴⁄₈₀ with a team option the fourth year

It took 2 swaps too. But if the Lakers didn’t sign Kessler and signed Mitchell Robinson instead for their starter, then the Jazz and Walker would be in a toxic staring contest with contact negotiations

I used to pray for times like this.

Top defensive centers don’t anchor literally the worst defense in the NBA for their entire career.

Let’s see if any of that translates to more minutes, meaningful games, and a team looking to contend.

Everything you say sounds great and that’s what you sell yourself on, but Kessler has done very little of that for extended periods of time or in meangful games. That definitely gives me reason to pause on that deal.

😂 what? The lakers paid up the ass for kessler

Just worked out for Grimes

Nets have Ton of Cap Space

Yep last year people were praising it. Even on this sub. The 180 on Braun is insane. Guy was injured for most of the season lol

He was very good before he signed it, then injuries piled up. He was doing fine vs SGA in the playoffs before SGA figured the defense out.

Flair checks out.

Back in my day I was so surprised to see Kobe sign 20m AAV

I’m sure a good amount of people thought that but it’s important to note the average person in this sub knows nothing about basketball and contracts