The Milwaukee Bucks are among the few teams chasing Denver Nuggets free agent Peyton Watson, and while he's a desirable target, external suitors should not get their hopes up. Per The Athletic NBA writer Tony Jones (subscription required), the Nuggets are confident that they will keep their young forward once the restricted free agent process plays out.
Bucks' route to Watson is complicated
Milwaukee can't outright sign Watson, but they also can't just trade for him. They must come to a sign and trade agreement that both Watson and the Nuggets agree to. It's possible, although complicated. As is often the case with restricted free agents, the team that employs them, Denver in this case, will typically cave and hand the player a new deal in due time. Things are trending that way here, it seems.
If the Bucks are zeroed in on Watson, they must simply hope that the forward and Denver remain far apart on a contract agreement. If Milwaukee is willing to hand Watson the check he wants while also putting assets on the table to satisfy the Nuggets, things become a lot more interesting. For now, that does not appear to be the way things stand.
Bucks' backup options if Watson falls through
It's very apparent that Milwaukee could use another forward on the depth chart. Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Ousmane Dieng are currently set to battle for the starting small forward spot. Both are solid players, but Watson would be an upgrade and immediately give the Bucks their small forward of the future. Yet, there is a realistic possibility their interest falls through.
If their Watson interest indeed falls through, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Bucks once again be linked to Jonathan Kuminga. NBA insider Marc Stein previously linked Milwaukee to the forward, who is currently a sign and trade candidate trade himself with Atlanta. In all likelihood, he wouldn't cost as much as Watson.
The Lakers obviously face financial constraints but league sources say they continue to explore the feasibility of adding Jonathan Kuminga to fill a wing need.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 2, 2026
Cleveland and Milwaukee have also expressed Kuminga interest and a return to Atlanta has not been ruled out. pic.twitter.com/at1Q99RgCb
Milwaukee could also just ride it out with who they have. Jaquez, coming off the best year of his NBA career, could thrive in a bigger role. Dieng, also having his best year, has more to give. The prominent wild card in all of this is Nate Ament, who is still raw but just sent a rousing message in his most recent Summer League outing. Could he be ready sooner than anyone thought? That's a swirling question.
Before anything, the Milwaukee Bucks need a resolution on Watson. The Nuggets are in the driver's seat, so the Bucks must be prepared to pivot, but never say never.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
Add us as a preferred source on Google