NBA free agency is coming down to the wire, with multiple known teams throughout the league remaining unsigned.
Among those names are multiple players who are currently in restricted free agency. The Denver Nuggets‘ Peyton Watson has been labeled as one of the top names remaining on the board.
The 23-year-old went through an up-and-down 2025-26 season. It included career-highs mixed with lingering injuries.
Despite this, Watson is still receiving interest from multiple teams in the league, The Athletic’s Tony Jones reports.
“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,” Jones wrote. “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’s ongoing Aspiration investigation. The Atlanta Hawks, who recently declined a team option on Jonathan Kuminga, are also interested in Watson.”
Nuggets on Verge of Approaching the Second Apron
GettyWhile looking to re-sign restricted free agent Peyton Watson, the Denver Nuggets have to carefully navigate their spending. Without Watson signed, the Nuggets are already exceeding the NBA first apron. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
The Denver Nuggets have a tricky offseason ahead as they face financial uncertainty heading into the 2026-27 season.
With five players on the roster who are already owed over $20 million a year in Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson, and Christian Braun, the NBA’s second apron is in sight.
The Nuggets have already said they are confident they can retain Peyton Watson this offseason.
Denver is already over the luxury tax threshold without a new deal for Peyton Watson. Signing him to an eight-figure deal would end up putting the Nuggets over the $222 million second apron, Tony Jones added.
If the Peyton Watson sweepstakes doesn’t play out the way the Nuggets hope, a sign-and-trade scenario will likely take place with one of the teams interested in the 23-year-old.
Peyton Watson’s Impressive, But Injury-Riddled 2025-26
GettyDenver Nuggets wing Peyton Watson put up career-high numbers in 2025-26. However, a lingering Grade 2 hamstring strain caused the 23-year-old to miss significant time when he was needed most. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
The Denver Nuggets were fortunate to see some positive results from Peyton Watson after drafting him in the first round in 2022.
The Nuggets faced injury issues throughout 2025-26. This led to Watson getting more opportunities. Through 54 games (40 starts) last season, Watson finished with career-highs in offensive statistics. He averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 49.1/41.1/73.0 shooting splits.
However, the 6-foot-8, 200-pound wing faced multiple injuries. Watson suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain in early February, which caused him to miss around six weeks.
He would return to the Nuggets’ lineup in late March. After five games back from the setback, Watson suffered a re-aggravation of the hamstring strain on April 1.
This resulted in him missing the remainder of the regular season. He would be sidelined throughout Denver’s postseason run, which resulted in a first-round exit against another team battling injuries: The Minnesota Timberwolves.
Despite a history of injuries, Peyton Watson is a name that has received interest in multiple teams this offseason.
Three Teams Showing Interest in Nuggets’ RFA Peyton Watson: Report