Get ready for some long nights, Bucks fans, because the Peyton Watson drama isn’t ending anytime soon. Word on the street, specifically from Jake Fischer, is that we might not even get a resolution on the Watson situation until sometime in September. Seriously, September! Watson and his crew, Rich Paul from Klutch Sports Group, are reportedly “willing to remain patient.” Patience is a virtue, sure, but it’s also a major headache for Milwaukee right now. This whole thing has Milwaukee’s roster in a complete holding pattern, frozen at 17 players. Watson’s the top talent they’ve been linked to, even with other names like Jonathon Kuminga and Benedict Mathurin floating around. The Bucks aren’t making any big moves until this plays out, and who can blame them? Their whole offseason feels paused.
The Nuggets Are Playing Hardball, And Milwaukee Is In The Mix
Hold up, though, because things are heating up on the trade front. Shams Charania dropped the bomb that the Denver Nuggets are actively looking at sign-and-trade options for Watson, and Milwaukee is absolutely still in play. The Nuggets are apparently talking with multiple teams, including Cleveland, the Clippers, and our friends in Milwaukee. They’re looking for player packages, pick packages, whatever it takes. If they can’t swing a trade, then Watson could just come back to Denver on a one year, $6.5 million qualifying offer. The Nuggets seem unwilling to up their offer to Watson, which makes these active trade talks a super encouraging sign for the Bucks. But here’s the kicker: the Nuggets are a second apron team after matching Oklahoma City’s offer for Spencer Jones, and then they went even deeper into it by signing Lonnie Walker IV. So yeah, any trade for Watson is going to be incredibly complex, to say the least. It’s like trying to untangle a ball of yarn after a cat’s had its way with it.
Bucks Hesitation Could Cost Them Big
Now, despite all this interest, there’s a catch for the Bucks. Eric Nehm of The Athletic reported that Milwaukee is hesitant to throw in any first round draft capital for Watson. League sources are saying the Bucks are trying to rebuild their asset base “post-Antetokounmpo,” which, man, that phrase just hits different, doesn’t it? So, without a first round pick on the table, the Nuggets would have to get most of the trade value from the players Milwaukee sends over. Other teams might be offering a fringe rotation player *with* a first-rounder, but for the Bucks, it means they’d need to cough up “real rotation players” to even get Denver to consider a deal. That’s a huge difference, and it means the Bucks are going to have some tough choices ahead if they really want Watson in a deer-adorned jersey.
What’s next? We’re all just waiting, folks. Waiting for September, waiting for Rich Paul to make his move, and waiting to see if the Bucks are willing to pay the price. This roster isn’t going anywhere until then, and the pressure is definitely on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Brew Hoop.
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