Appearing on NBA Today (video link), ESPN’s Shams Charania reiterated that multiple teams — including the Cavaliers, Bucks and Clippers — are pursuing sign-and-trades for Nuggets restricted free agent Peyton Watson.
Charania vaguely described the types of offers that rival teams have been willing to offer the Nuggets to this point and capped it off with an eyebrow-raising comment.
“There are combinations of player packages, pick packages as well,” Charania said. “So either (the Nuggets are) going to trade him, or you could potentially have him back on a one-year, $6.5MM qualifying offer.”
Reporting for The Athletic, Eric Nehm hears from sources that the Hawks are another team intrigued by Watson, as has been previously reported. Nehm also confirms Milwaukee’s interest in the 23-year-old.
As for what the Bucks might be offering in sign-and-trade talks, Nehm’s sources believe the team would be reluctant to part with a first-round pick in any package for the 6’8″ forward. If a first-rounder isn’t involved, Milwaukee would likely have to include a valuable player (or two) to pique Denver’s interest.
So what player(s) might the Bucks be willing to trade for Watson? Nehm wonders if Jaime Jaquez Jr., who was acquired from Miami in the Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster, could be included in those conversations.
However, there would be complications in that sort of deal, Nehm notes, since Jaquez is eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason and the Bucks might not be sending out in enough money in that scenario to make a lucrative offer to Watson due to their first-apron hard cap. The Nuggets also can’t take back any salary in a sign-and-trade unless the deal moves them below the second apron.
Either way, Denver still has several weeks to work through the situation, Nehm writes, and if a trade doesn’t come together, Watson could accept his qualifying offer, which would feature an implicit no-trade clause and enable him to become an unrestricted free agent next year.
As Ryan Blackburn of Mile High Sports observes (Twitter links), the most recent Watson chatter appears to indicate his agents are focused on finding him a new team rather than working to keep him in Denver. That could be because he’s unhappy with his contract offers from the Nuggets or his projected role with the team, or a combination of both.
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