Bucks reluctant to include first-round pick in Peyton Watson trade talks

But while the Bucks are interested in the 23-year-old forward, league sources maintain they expect the Bucks to be hesitant to include a first-round pick in any deal for Peyton Watson as they continue building out their asset base post-Antetokounmpo . Without giving up a first-round pick, the Nuggets would have to derive much of the value of a sign-and-trade with the Bucks from the player (or players) involved in the deal. While other teams interested in Watson might be giving up fringe rotation players with a first-rounder, the Bucks might need to include real rotation players to entice the Nuggets to consider their offer.

New York Times

More on Peyton Watson: Recent HoopsHype Rumors

The Nuggets remain in active trade talks with multiple teams on a potential Watson sign-and-trade, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks and LA Clippers, sources told ESPN. Watson also holds a one-year, $6.5 million qualifying offer that would make him an unrestricted free agent next summer. — 8/6/2026 ESPN

When it comes to the rumblings that are continued around Peyton Watson, Jonathan Kuminga, what are you hearing and how likely is it that the Cavs make a move that could get them both of these players? Chris Fedor: Yeah, I think both of them is highly unlikely. Again, on this podcast, we never say never and we try and deal in reality as much as we possibly can. Getting one of them is going to be hard enough given the salary cap situation that the Cavs are currently in, given the lack of perceived trade assets and given the salary cap situation of some of These other teams that we’re talking about here. So for example, you’ve got the Atlanta Hawks who have said to teams around the NBA it looked we’re willing to help out Jonathan Kuminga in a potential sign and trade, but we need to be incentivized in order to do that. We’ve got to get something back in return that we actually like. And that’s part of the holdup, it feels like, between the Hawks and the Los Angeles Lakers , because there are people around the NBA that are saying to themselves, what are the Lakers going to give the Hawks that the Hawks value enough or that the Hawks actually want? The hawks already have 17 guys under contract, so they have some things that they have to do internally. — 8/5/2026 Cleveland Plain Dealer

APHoops: The Bucks and Clippers have remained active in their pursuits of restricted free agent Peyton Watson, but a resolution may not come until early September as Watson and his agent, Rich Paul, are willing to remain patient, per @JakeLFischer. Atlanta “was involved.” Cleveland is interested in both Kuminga and Watson. (via @BleacherReport) — 8/4/2026 x.com

DNVR Nuggets: “I’ve consistently heard the offers are in the $16-18 million range in terms of annual average value." - @TheSteinLine on Peyton Watson's free agency . — 8/4/2026 x.com

Marc Stein: Their preferred scenario would be finding a trade home for Zeke Nnaji, but you know if you do that you’re attaching draft capital and the Nuggets are not exactly teeming with extra draft capital . — 8/3/2026 YouTube

Marc Stein: If [the Nuggets] keep Peyton Watson, there’s probably going to be a trade— I’m gonna go out on a limb and say it’s probably going to be a trade that the DNVR Nuggets show does not approve of . — 8/3/2026 YouTube

Sources say the Cavs have expressed interest in free agents DeMar DeRozan, Peyton Watson and Jonathan Kuminga . DeRozan, the 17-year NBA veteran, was waived by Sacramento a little more than three weeks ago and has been viewed leaguewide as a possible low-cost target for any team that missed on LeBron. There’s an argument that DeRozan is the best available free agent. — 7/31/2026 Cleveland Plain Dealer

While the Bucks haven’t offered a first-round pick yet, they’d consider absorbing Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji as part of a Watson sign-and-trade, HoopsHype has learned. Nnaji is owed a combined $14.93 million with two seasons remaining on his contract, including a player option for the 2027-28 season. — 7/31/2026 HoopsHype

The Denver Nuggets remain interested in retaining restricted free agent forward Peyton Watson amid sign-and-trade interest from the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, and Los Angeles Clippers. Denver’s price tag in any sign-and-trade scenario has shifted to at least one first-round pick and one notable player, per multiple reports, and confirmed by HoopsHype. — 7/31/2026 HoopsHype

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers have recently called to express interest in a sign-and-trade for Denver Nuggets restricted free-agent forward Peyton Watson, league sources told HoopsHype. The newfound interest in Watson comes on the heels of Cleveland also being in the mix for free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga in sign-and-trade discussions. More on both forwards to come in separate sections below. — 7/31/2026 HoopsHype

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Bucks reluctant to include first-round pick in Peyton Watson trade talks

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