​NBA insider Jake Fischer indicated that the Clippers remain a legitimate option for restricted free agent Peyton Watson, even after they added Rui Hachimura, as Los Angeles continues to explore ways to pursue the young Nuggets forward. Getty The Denver Nuggets could be facing another obstacle in the Peyton Watson sweepstakes as the Clippers’ pursuit remains in play, and now the Atlanta Hawks have emerged as a fresh potential suitor. Fischer reported on Friday in The Stein Line that Atlanta has recently entered the mix, creating an additional possible path for Watson should Denver and Watson’s camp fail to reach a deal. “Atlanta, sources say, has also shown some fresh interest in Watson, which would likewise require a sign-and-trade to make it happen,” Fischer wrote. This marks the first time the Hawks have surfaced as a serious contender for the 23-year-old forward, broadening what had largely been viewed as a Nuggets-versus-Clippers battle. Any move, however, would still require Denver’s cooperation because Watson is a restricted free agent.
Earlier this week, Fischer noted that the Clippers remained a legitimate suitor for Watson despite their acquisition of Rui Hachimura, with Los Angeles still looking into ways to pursue the young forward from Denver. The Hawks’ entry comes less than 24 hours after Fischer had suggested the Clippers were becoming less aggressive in pursuing Watson than previously believed. During Bleacher Report’s NBA Summer League livestream in Las Vegas on Thursday, Fischer said the Clippers have increasingly shifted their focus toward re-signing their own restricted free agent, Bennedict Mathurin. “I’ve been told that the Clippers, at this point in time, are actually more likely than we thought before earlier in the week to bring back Ben Mathurin in comparison to bringing in Peyton Watson,” Fischer said. Earlier in the week, Fischer had identified the Clippers as the Nuggets’ primary competition for Watson.
The Hawks’ new interest gives Denver another potential rival to worry about. While Fischer did not indicate Atlanta had overtaken the Clippers as Watson’s top outside suitor, the latest report suggests the market for the former first-round pick continues to evolve. Despite the growing outside interest, the Nuggets have consistently maintained that bringing Watson back remains one of their top offseason objectives. Negotiations between Denver and Watson’s representatives have continued throughout free agency, with previous reporting indicating that discussions have centered on contract value rather than other terms. The evolving market underscores how Watson’s free agent status has attracted attention beyond the original Nuggets-Clippers dynamic, as teams weigh the potential impact of a restricted free agent who could significantly alter the balance of power for the wings and forward spots on various rosters.