Just when it appeared the Nuggets had blown $29 million so coach George Karl and general manager Kiki Vandeweghe could wage a petty fight, the poor guy caught in the middle of this spat saved his bosses from embarrassment.

Maybe Earl Watson is not a big waste of money after all.

In fact, before this basketball season is over, Watson could be the most valuable guard on the Nuggets roster.

"I never played for a coach who didn't love me," Watson said Saturday.

Before he could earn acceptance from fans, Watson fought merely to get noticed by Karl. The forgotten free agent finally has been discovered. The Invisible Man has got game. Who knew?

"I tried not to think about it, because if you think about it, you can build your own monster, make the negativity bigger than what it really is," said Watson, who was caught in the crossfire of NBA office politics.