Report: Bucks Enter Trade Talks for Peyton Watson; League Reaction to Trent Deal, Other Notes
bucks-join-watson-pursuit-trent-jordan-mavs-coaching
The Milwaukee Bucks have emerged as the latest club exploring a sign-and-trade for Denver Nuggets restricted free agent wing Peyton Watson, according to Marc Stein’s Substack report. Milwaukee joins the Los Angeles Clippers and Atlanta Hawks on the growing list of teams gauging the 23-year-old’s market.
After finalizing a four-year, $64 million agreement with Gary Trent Jr., the Bucks still project to sit more than $10 million below the luxury-tax threshold. That cushion would allow the front office to start Watson at or near his reported $25 million-per-year target if Milwaukee can move enough salary in the transaction.
Contracts that could be used to match money include Kyle Kuzma ($20.5 million), Caris LeVert ($14.8 million) and A.J. Green ($10 million). However, Denver is expected to resist taking back significant salary because acquiring outgoing money would trigger a hard cap at the second tax apron. The Nuggets are also said to be seeking a return comparable to the Utah Jazz’s haul for Walker Kessler—two first-round picks plus two pick swaps.
Shock Around the League Over Trent Contract
Stein reports “profound shock” among rival executives at Trent’s $64 million deal with Milwaukee. Even if competitors suspect the two sides reached a verbal agreement well before free agency, it remains unclear whether any team will formally ask the NBA to investigate what many view as an overpay.
Pelicans Lock in DeAndre Jordan
Sources told Stein the New Orleans Pelicans feared veteran center DeAndre Jordan might accept a one-year minimum offer elsewhere. To protect his locker-room presence, the club raised its proposal to a fully guaranteed two-year contract.
Mavericks Secure Assistants Green and Boylan
The Dallas Mavericks successfully swayed assistants Willie Green and Joe Boylan to join rookie head coach Dusty May, Stein writes. Golden State had been deep in talks with Green, and Milwaukee had already hired Boylan before Dallas completed its staff. The Golden State Warriors subsequently reached a deal with Frank Vogel to fill the lead assistant role that initially appeared headed to Green.
Source: HoopsRumors
