Despite being summer, the NBA’s August doldrums continue at glacial speeds. But amidst the roster limbo the Bucks find themselves in, tidbits continue to emerge about one particular player of interest: Peyton Watson. Let’s catch up.
A delayed resolution?
The news: Reports from Jake Fischer indicate that a resolution on the Watson front might not come until some time in September, with Watson and his Klutch Sports Group agent Rich Paul apparently “willing to remain patient.”
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Why it matters: For the Bucks, this continues their roster holding pattern. With Watson the most talented player the Bucks have been linked to—they have also been connected with Jonathon Kuminga and Benedict Mathurin—they are unlikely to make any roster moves until this situation plays out. So, the roster remains at 17.
Actively involved
The news: According to Shams Charania, the Denver Nuggets are actively exploring sign-and-trade possibilities for Watson and the Bucks remain very much in play:
[The Nuggets] are in active trade talks with multiple teams on a Peyton Watson sign and trade. That includes Cleveland, Milwaukee, and the Clippers. There are combinations of player packages, pick packages as well. So either they’re gonna trade him, or you could potentially have him back on a 1-year, $6.5 million qualifying offer.
Why it matters: With the Nuggets seemingly unwilling to increase their offer to Watson and the Bucks one of three teams listed in talks, this is an encouraging sign. Of course, with the Nuggets becoming a second apron team after matching the Oklahoma City Thunder’s offer to forward Spencer Jones—and going deeper into it by signing Lonnie Walker IV—any trade will be complex (to say the least).
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Asset hesitation
The news: Meanwhile, despite their interest, Eric Nehm of The Athletic reported that the Bucks are hesitant to include any first-round draft capital in a deal for Watson:
But while the Bucks are interested in the 23-year-old forward, league sources maintain they expect the Bucks to be hesitant to include a first-round pick in any deal for Watson as they continue building out their asset base post-Antetokounmpo.
Without giving up a first-round pick, the Nuggets would have to derive much of the value of a sign-and-trade with the Bucks from the player (or players) involved in the deal. While other teams interested in Watson might be giving up fringe rotation players with a first-rounder, the Bucks might need to include real rotation players to entice the Nuggets to consider their offer.
Why it matters: Jon Horst seems to be playing hardball. Yes, the Bucks would love to have Watson, but being in the extremely early stages of a rebuild, they shouldn’t be outwardly willing to cough up major assets to do so. Yes, Watson is worth a first-round pick. But Horst keeping that in his back pocket is the right move for now. Plus, the Bucks do have a logjam of rotational players that could be dealt in whatever convoluted trade ultimately materialises.
Where the Watson saga ends up is anyone’s guess. For all we know, the Bucks might simply be involving themselves as a trade facilitator taking on a contract they can absorb while bringing back additional assets. Either way, here’s hoping Horst has another heist up his sleeve.
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