{"id":2047904,"date":"2026-07-17T10:15:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T07:15:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2047904"},"modified":"2026-07-17T10:15:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T07:15:13","slug":"peyton-watson-latest-what-im-hearing-about-nuggets-intriguing-restricted-free-agent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2047904","title":{"rendered":"Peyton Watson latest: What I\u2019m hearing about Nuggets\u2019 intriguing restricted free agent"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson hasn\u2019t been discussed as much as other prominent restricted free agents, such as Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, who remains unsigned, or Walker Kessler, the defensive-minded seven-footer who was a sign-and-trade from the Utah Jazz to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this summer. But Watson\u2019s situation remains interesting for several reasons.<\/p>\n

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While the Nuggets want to make the emerging 23-year-old forward a part of their future and park him into their starting lineup going forward, they, like several other teams, are close to the NBA\u2019s punitive second apron. So Watson, like Duren, remained unsigned as of Thursday night.<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s next for him?<\/p>\n

The Milwaukee Bucks have emerged as a team potentially interested in executing a sign-and-trade for Watson, according to league sources who were granted anonymity so that they could describe ongoing deliberations. You can add them to a list of potential suitors that includes the LA Clippers, who are now in a holding pattern after their Kawhi Leonard trade with the Toronto Raptors was paused due to the NBA\u2019s ongoing Aspiration investigation<\/a>. The Atlanta Hawks, who recently declined a team option on Jonathan Kuminga<\/a>, are also interested in Watson, according to those sources.<\/p>\n

Watson\u2019s skill set is essential to Denver\u2019s success. He broke out this past season, averaging almost 15 points per game while proving his chops as a legitimate scoring option, but suffered a recurring hamstring strain that first sidelined him in February and ultimately ended his season in April. Without him, the Nuggets\u2019 lack of athleticism was exposed in their first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.<\/p>\n

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What happens to the Nuggets now?<\/div>\n
Dave DuFour, Esfandiar Baraheni and more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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