The Bucks are eager to pursue Nuggets wing Peyton Watson in a sign-and-trade, but not if it means giving up a first-round pick. According to a report from insider Michael Scotto, Milwaukee has yet to cave to Denver’s current asking price including a future first-rounder. Without question, this is the right stance for the Bucks to take as they enter the first year of a rebuild and can’t afford to give away future picks for unproven players.
The Bucks need to hold their ground
Even if the Bucks never offer up a first-round pick, they could end up snagging Watson eventually anyways. The Nuggets have already lowered their asking price for the restricted free agency since the beginning of the offseason due to their financial struggles as a second-apron team. As of now, it still stands at a first-round pick and a good player, but that’s subject to change if Denver feels more pressure.
The Bucks also have other options they can pursue, such as Bennedict Mathurin or Jonathan Kuminga, if Watson doesn’t get moved. Both of those two alternatives could offer similar upside as scorers, albeit without the same strong defense that Watson has shown, for much cheaper trade prices. Milwaukee’s front office doesn’t actually need to add either of those two players, but can use them as chips to add leverage against the Nuggets.
In no circumstance should any of these three options, Watson included, be worthy of a first-round pick from the Bucks. Milwaukee could end up with a top pick in any of the next few drafts, both due to the state of their roster after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo and the reformed lottery rules. Even if the Bucks somehow manage to scrape together enough wins to be an 11th or 12th seed, they’ll still have as good a chance as anyone else at the top pick.
Giving in to the Nuggets would be a disaster
Obviously, adding cheap young talent is the name of the game for the Bucks now. Top picks in the draft are probably the best way to do that, so protecting those picks (and even acquiring additional ones) should be the top priority. On the other hand, trading for Watson largely trends in the other direction, since he’s in line for a big pay increase.
Watson’s desired raise in his next contract could definitely be worth it if he can maintain the strong two-way play that he flashed in his best stretches last season. But it’ll still be a big financial commitment for a team looking to maximize flexibility, like the Bucks.
That’s even more reason not to add draft compensation to the trade package. Signing Watson alone to a fair deal will be a big risk already, sending out picks will make it an ill-advised bet.
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