Veteran guard Bruce Brown inked a contract with the Indiana Pacers this offseason, meaning the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets lost a vital player in their rotation. Calvin Booth, general manager, doesn’t seem concerned about replacing his output, though.

Booth stated to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer (via RealGM) that he thinks Peyton Watson, a second-year wing, is ready to take over and replace Brown.

“Some of these teams were trying to get Bruce, trying to make it worth it; it’s like, just be careful what you wish for,” Booth stated. Peyton is larger. Is he longer? He is a better athlete. He is a better guard. He has a superior pass. Although he lacks experience and is still developing as an offensive player, our team is more in need of defense than offense.”

This summer, Brown agreed to a two-year, $45 million contract with the Pacers. In 80 games in the previous season, he averaged 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals while playing a strong role as a spark plug off the bench. Despite not starting any postseason games, he was a crucial component of Denver’s drive to the NBA championship.

Watson, the No. 30 pick in the 2022 NBA draft, played in just 23 games as a rookie, averaging 3.3 points in 8.1 minutes per game. His efficiency was excellent as he made 42.9 percent of his three-point shots.

Christian Braun, a second-year shooting guard, is also anticipated to play a bigger role in Brown’s absence in addition to Watson.

On October 24, the Nuggets will play their first game of the 2023–24 season against the Los Angeles Lakers, who they defeated en route to victory in the Western Conference Finals.