The Bucks and Nuggets may have just taken the first step toward a strange little summer swap.
Dave Joerger is leaving Milwaukee to join Denver, with ESPN’s Shams Charania reporting that the veteran assistant is headed to the Nuggets as their lead assistant. Joerger had been on Doc Rivers’ staff, which made his path to Milwaukee pretty straightforward in the first place. He arrived during the 2024 mid-season overhaul after spending several years under Doc in Philadelphia, and once Rivers was out of the picture, keeping Joerger around would have been a surprise.
His departure leaves Milwaukee with one less experienced voice, but it also fits the direction the Bucks appear to be heading. Taylor Jenkins has already been building out a strong staff, and the organization is looking toward what’s being framed as a more youth-oriented era after a couple of rough seasons.
At the same time, Milwaukee is still circling one of Denver’s key pieces: Peyton Watson.
Jake Fischer reported that a source views the Bucks as the likeliest external team to pry Watson away from the Nuggets right now. Milwaukee has been after Watson for weeks, and the timing is lining up with Denver’s financial squeeze. The Nuggets are dealing with the NBA’s second apron and a heavy tax bill, which makes paying Watson what he wants a real problem unless they can clear major salary.
That’s where the Bucks come in. For Milwaukee to have its best shot, Watson would need to stay firm about wanting a payday this summer, no matter where it comes from. If that happens, the Bucks could be in position to pounce.
The Joerger move and the Watson chase aren’t directly connected, but the symmetry is hard to miss. Denver gets Milwaukee’s assistant.
Milwaukee wants Denver’s rising forward. An eye for an eye, as they say.
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