NBA rumor: Denver Nuggets 6-foot-8 restricted free agent hit with disappointing Bucks landing news | NBA News
Peyton Watson’s free agency isn’t moving anywhere fast. The Denver Nuggets forward remains a restricted free agent deep into the offseason, and while the Milwaukee Bucks are the team most often linked to a sign-and-trade, fresh reporting suggests Milwaukee isn’t ready to pay what it would likely take to get a deal done.Denver has already lowered its ask to a first-round pick plus a “notable” player in return, according to reports. That’s still more than the Bucks appear willing to give up as they continue stockpiling assets in the post-Giannis Antetokounmpo rebuild.
| Category | Details |
| Player | Peyton Watson |
| Current Team | Denver Nuggets |
| Rumored Team | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Contract Status | Restricted free agent, sign-and-trade talks ongoing |
| Trade Likelihood | High, Bucks viewed as front-runners for a sign-and-trade |
| Latest Insider Update | Bucks reportedly reluctant to include a first-round pick (Eric Nehm, The Athletic) |
| Potential Return | Jaime Jaquez Jr. and AJ Green (per Brett Siegel) |
Peyton Watson gets disappointing insider update on Milwaukee Bucks situation
Peyton Watson. Image via: Rich Storry/Getty Images
The Bucks have real interest in Watson as a 23-year-old wing who could grow into their timeline once they’re competitive again. But The Athletic’s Eric Nehm reported this week that Milwaukee is expected to be “hesitant to include a first-round pick in any deal for Watson” as the front office keeps building its post-Antetokounmpo asset base.That’s a meaningful gap between what Denver wants and what Milwaukee is offering. Instead of picks, ClutchPoints has since confirmed the Bucks’ framework leans on players, reportedly centered on Jaime Jaquez Jr. and AJ Green rather than draft capital. Green in particular fits Denver’s need for outside shooting, but the package still falls short of what the Nuggets have signaled they want for a core rotation piece coming off a career year.
Are the Cleveland Cavaliers chasing Peyton Watson?
Milwaukee isn’t operating alone in this market. NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote that “the Cavaliers appear to be prioritizing Peyton Watson now over Jonathan Kuminga” after missing out on LeBron James, with Cleveland reportedly willing to offer Max Strus or Dennis Schröder plus a future pick swap.ESPN’s Shams Charania has since confirmed the Nuggets are engaged with more than one side. Denver is fielding trade conversations with Cleveland, Milwaukee and the Clippers, weighing combinations of players and picks against the fallback option of bringing Watson back on a one-year, $6.5 million qualifying offer.
Why Peyton Watson’s situation is complicated
Denver’s leverage is limited by its own books. The Nuggets are sitting roughly $17.6 million over the luxury tax and $2 million over the second apron, according to Brett Siegel, a spot that restricts them from aggregating salaries or taking back money in a trade unless a deal pulls them back under the second apron.That financial reality is exactly why Denver wants picks or controllable young talent instead of just salary relief, and why the Bucks’ reluctance to part with a first-rounder is such friction. Watson is coming off the best season of his career, which only raises his asking price further and narrows the field of teams able to meet it.
Peyton Watson’s 2025-26 season by the numbers
Watson’s production is a big part of why this negotiation is dragging. His full stat line from last season:
| GP | MIN | PTS | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
| 54 | 29.6 | 15 | 49.1 | 41.1 | 73 | 4.9 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.7 |
Watson is certainly one of the important stars in free agency. It would be interesting to see where he would finally land.
