The Detroit Pistons are lucky enough to be one of the teams still left trying to work out their restricted free agent situation, as are the Nuggets and Clippers. Jalen Duren, Peyton Watson, and Bennedict Mathurin are waiting to know what their future will look like, which, for the three of them, could be decided at any given moment. Or, of course, it could stretch on even longer.
Like Detroit, Denver is in a stalemate with Watson in negotiations, as he believes he's worth more than the five-year, $70 million contract the team offered him (sound familiar?).
Unlike the Pistons, though, the Nuggets are open to sign-and-trade discussions, so rather than let things drag out too long, they could decide to send the forward to a new team, putting an even brighter spotlight (and not in a good way!) on Duren's situation in Detroit.
Being a restricted free agent in this day and age is tough. It's not fun not knowing what your future will hold, especially as mid-August approaches.
If Duren is already antsy about where things are (and it's hard to imagine him not feeling that way), the Watson domino falling could amplify that feeling, especially if it involves the wing getting the kind of money he believes he deserves, one way or another.
Jalen Duren and Peyton Watson are the top two RFAs
Mathurin's situation is different from Duren and Watson's, as the Clippers are waiting for a Kawhi Leonard resolution before their offseason proceeds. His value isn't the same as the other two, and because of that, it seems he will stay in Los Angeles once it has handled its other business.
Duren and Watson, meanwhile, don't like the offers they've been presented with, but there could be a way out for the Nuggets forward if they make it possible. Denver has already lowered its asking price in a sign-and-trade, going from what Utah received for Walker Kessler to a first-round pick and a "high-level player." There are teams out there who can make that, or something like it, happen.
As ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported last week, the Clippers, Bucks, Hawks, and the Cavaliers are "serious candidates" to land Watson.
The odds of a trade happening are even higher because of Denver's financial situation, as it's already over the second tax apron, and after matching Oklahoma City's offer sheet for Spencer Jones, its luxury tax bill increased by over $30 million. While they don't want to lose Watson, paying him in the realm of what he wants could be a line they choose not to cross. Trading him and getting something in return would be better than him betting on himself and accepting his qualifying offer.
If Denver finds the right deal sooner rather than later (or maybe even agrees to a new contract), ending what's already felt like a long offseason, all eyes will be on Detroit as it tries to do what's best for the organization and the center, without severing the relationship.
Hopefully, Duren isn't harboring any resentment toward the Pistons for how things have gone up to this point, but if he is, let's hope those feelings don't intensify toward the organization the longer this goes on, especially if the Nuggets help Watson get what he's looking for.
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