Denver Considers Jaylen Brown Trade While Navigating Peyton Watson Free Agency
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The Denver Nuggets have discussed whether their current assets are sufficient to pursue a trade for Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown, but league insiders do not view Denver as a realistic destination at this stage, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
Team officials are trying to improve the roster around MVP center Nikola Jokić while also preparing to match offers for restricted free agent Peyton Watson. Sources told Stein and Fischer that re-signing Watson could require Denver to move at least one starter.
Aaron Gordon has generated the most outside interest among the club’s non-Jokić starters, yet the Nuggets prefer to keep both Gordon and Jamal Murray. Instead, they would rather gauge the market for Cameron Johnson or Christian Braun, the report states.
Stein and Fischer add that center Jonas Valančiūnas is not expected back next season, and the same uncertainty surrounds veteran guard Tim Hardaway Jr.
Additional notes from around the league
Raptors: Toronto expects reserve big man Sandro Mamukelashvili to explore free agency. The club still hopes to strike a deal before the market opens on June 30, but multiple teams are prepared to offer a sizable portion of the projected $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
Nets and Spurs: Brooklyn and San Antonio are among the teams eyeing free-agent forward Rui Hachimura. The 28-year-old averaged 11.5 points while shooting 51.4% from the field and 44.3% from three in 68 games with the Los Angeles Lakers last season.
Magic: Center Moritz Wagner is believed to be open to leaving Orlando, with several clubs expected to pursue the German big man.
Hawks/Mavericks: Atlanta explored a deal for Dallas center Daniel Gafford before February’s trade deadline but offered only second-round picks. Dallas later sought a first-rounder for Gafford ahead of this week’s draft but found no takers.
Lonnie Walker IV: Maccabi Tel Aviv guard Lonnie Walker IV could return to the NBA this summer. The 27-year-old, who last played stateside for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2024-25, holds an NBA opt-out clause until July 15.
Source: Hoops Rumors
