Wow! $100 million! $100 million per year! The Nuggets trade as fast as possible.

Insider Shams:The Nuggets signed Lonnie Walker to a one-year, $3.3 million contract.

Walker was born on December 14, 1998, stands 1.93m tall with a 2.09m wingspan, was the 18th pick in the first round of the 2018 draft, and has played for the Spurs, Lakers, Nets, and 76ers in his NBA career. His stats are as follows:

Regular season: averaged 20.5 minutes, 10 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, with shooting percentages of 42.2%, 35.6%, and 79.5%.

Playoffs: averaged 10.5 minutes, 4.5 points, 0.7 rebounds, 0.7 assists, with shooting percentages of 47.1%, 37.1%, and 75%.

This guy last played in the NBA in the 24-25 season. Last season, he played for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, appearing in 13 games, averaging 19.7 minutes, 15.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, with shooting percentages of 50.7%, 40.7%, and 81.5%.

Reporter Siegel commented: After the Nuggets signed Walker, the luxury tax bill rose from $68 million to $80 million...This means that even if Watson only takes a $6.5 million qualifying offer, the Nuggets' luxury tax will exceed $120 million.

Therefore, the best way for the Nuggets to solve the Watson issue is to trade him via a sign-and-trade, with teams like the Cavaliers, Bucks, and Clippers interested in being the suitor.

Watson, 23 years old, stands 2.03m tall with a 2.14m wingspan, was the 30th pick in the first round of the 2022 draft. He had a standout season last year, playing 54 regular-season games (40 starts), averaging 29.6 minutes, 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, with shooting percentages of 49.1%, 41.1%, and 73%. He is considered to have the potential to grow into an All-Star.

If Watson really walks away, it would greatly damage the Nuggets' competitiveness. However, as the saying goes, "you can't make bricks without straw" – since they can't afford to keep him, they have to let him go.

By the way, next summer Jokic will be eligible to sign a 5-year, $359.5 million contract, the largest in NBA history. Undoubtedly, this is the biggest challenge for the Nuggets' front office.