Stein's Latest: Bucks, Watson, Trent, Jordan, Mavs

Posted by Admin July 14, 2026 Basketball

We can add the Bucks to the list of the teams eyeing Peyton Watson, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, who reports in his latest Substack article that Milwaukee has joined the Clippers and Hawks on the list of clubs with sign-and-trade interest in the Nuggets‘ restricted free agent wing.

Even after completing their reported deal with Gary Trent Jr., the Bucks should have $10MM+ in breathing room below the luxury tax line, which would give them enough room to give Watson a starting salary at or near his reported asking price of $25MM+ annually, as long as they send out enough salary.

Kyle Kuzma ($20.5MM), Caris LeVert ($14.8MM), and A.J. Green ($10MM) would be among Milwaukee’s potential trade candidates in that scenario, though it’s worth noting that the Nuggets likely aren’t eager to take back much – if any – salary in a Watson sign-and-trade. Doing so would hard-cap them at the second tax apron.

The Nuggets’ asking price for Watson is also said to be quite high, with one report indicating they’re seeking a similar return to what Utah got for Walker Kessler (two first-round picks and two swaps).

Here are a few more items of interest from Stein:

Stein describes the league-wide reaction to Trent’s reported four-year, $64MM deal with the Bucks as “profound shock,” but he says it remains to be seen how the NBA will respond to it. As Stein points out, even if opposing executives around the league suspect the Bucks and Trent had a handshake deal in place a year ago, it’s unclear whether any other teams would actually complain to the league about a rival significantly overpaying a free agent.
Sources with knowledge of the team’s thinking tell Stein that New Orleans was concerned that veteran center DeAndre Jordan would sign a one-year, minimum-salary contract with another team, which is why the Pelicans – not wanting to lose Jordan’s veteran leadership in their locker room – increased their offer to two guaranteed years.
The Warriors were in “advanced” discussions with Willie Green and the Bucks had actually hired Joe Boylan before the Mavericks were able to lure both assistants to Dallas this offseason to be part of Dusty May‘s first NBA staff, Stein writes. Golden State eventually agreed to a deal with Frank Vogel to take the lead assistant role that initially looked like it would go to Green.