Peyton Watson RFA Standoff Intensifies

Nuggets offered 4yr/$70M with team option ($17.5M AAV) but Watson demands $25-28M. Cavaliers, Bucks, Clippers, Hawks interested. Sign-and-trade likely. Trust damaged after Watson sat out playoffs. Latest reports confirm Cavs willing to offer Strus or Schröder. A new analysis projects the bench unit without Watson, and a separate article confirms the team option detail. A speculative trade proposal suggests sending Cam Johnson to the Lakers to shed salary and keep Watson, but no real traction.