Nuggets snag UCLA’s Watson with No. 30 overall pick in 2022 NBA Draft

Another Peyton is coming to Denver!

No, not Peyton Manning, but Peyton Watson from UCLA. Denver selected him No. 30 overall in the NBA Draft on Thursday night.

The Nuggets acquired the pick from the Thunder in a trade earlier this month. Denver reportedly parted ways with JaMychal Green in exchange for the last selection of the first-round. The pick was announced as OKC’s, but he’s heading to the Mile High City.

We have agreed upon a trade with the OKC Thunder to acquire the 30th pick (Peyton Watson) and two future second-round picks in exchange for JaMychal Green and a future protected first-round pick.

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) June 24, 2022

ESPN’s Jay Bilas called Watson “a longer term project” during the television coverage, and rightfully so. Watson averaged just 3.3 points per game his freshman year at UCLA. He played only 12 minutes per game.

Watson projects as a guy Denver will look to develop, unlike fellow first-round pick Christian Braun from Kansas, who could crack the Nuggets’ rotation right away.

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