The Denver Nuggets’ latest roster move may have quietly opened a door for the Chicago Bulls.
By signing veteran guard Lonnie Walker IV, Denver added another layer of financial pressure to an already tight situation - and that could make swingman Peyton Watson more available than he was before. For the Bulls, that matters. Chicago still has room to chase a meaningful addition, and Watson fits the kind of long-term swing this front office should be exploring.
Denver’s move for Walker makes sense on the surface. The Nuggets lost Tim Hardaway Jr. in free agency, and Walker brings seven years of NBA experience and 342 games played to a minimum-salary role.
But the tax bill attached to the signing is no small detail. Per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, Denver is currently the only team in the second apron, and adding Walker will cost at least $12 million in luxury tax payments.
That number climbs even higher if Watson stays on his $6.5 million qualifying offer, pushing Denver’s tax payment beyond $120 million.
That’s the kind of squeeze that can force a team into uncomfortable decisions, and Watson already looked like a tricky piece for the Nuggets to keep. Denver previously matched an offer sheet from the Oklahoma City Thunder to retain Spencer Jones, and now it has layered Walker onto the books as well. Watson’s situation in Denver now feels especially fragile.
The 23-year-old reportedly has a five-year offer worth $70 million, which works out to an annual average of $14 million. That’s still far below the $25 million per year he’s seeking. Chicago, meanwhile, appears to have more financial flexibility to make a deal work.
There’s also a growing sense that Denver’s asking price has come down. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Nuggets have reportedly lowered their demands to a first-round pick and a “notable player” in a sign-and-trade.
Watson would not be a small get. He’s coming off career highs across the board, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 29.6 minutes while shooting 41.1 percent from three. That’s the profile of a young 3-and-D wing with real upside, and several teams are in the mix, including the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers.
For the Bulls, the path is there. Denver’s latest move only seems to make it a little more realistic. Chicago should be ready to press its case.
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