NBA trade proposal sends Peyton Watson to Clippers, Bennedict Mathurin to Bulls

Peyton Watson remains one of the bigger names stuck in the NBA’s restricted free-agent logjam. Perhaps it takes three teams to finally get him unstuck.

Logan Struck of Nuggets On SI proposed a three-team sign-and-trade involving the Nuggets, Clippers and Bulls that would send Watson to Los Angeles and Bennedict Mathurin to Chicago.

To be clear, this is a hypothetical proposal, not something that has been reported as being discussed by the teams. Here’s the idea:

Nuggets receive: Kris Dunn, 2031 first-round pick from Clippers via Raptors

Clippers receive: Peyton Watson (sign-and-trade), Isaac Okoro, two second-round picks from Bulls

Bulls receive: Bennedict Mathurin (sign-and-trade)

There are certainly some moving parts.

Why it could work for Denver

The Nuggets would obviously prefer to keep Watson if they can get him signed to a long-term contract. That’s the problem.

Watson and Denver have yet to find common ground on a new deal, and the 23-year-old could eventually accept his qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

In this scenario, Denver avoids that possibility by landing Dunn and a future first-round pick.

Dunn isn’t Watson offensively, but he’s one of the league’s better perimeter defenders and could immediately help a Nuggets team with championship aspirations.

The first-rounder would also give Denver another asset to use in a future move.

Clippers get their guy

The Clippers have been linked to Watson throughout the summer, making them a logical destination in any hypothetical involving the restricted free agent.

Los Angeles would be giving up Dunn and Mathurin but adding two young wings in Watson and Okoro. Watson would be the centerpiece.

With Kawhi Leonard (presumably) headed to Toronto, the Clippers are reshaping the roster around Darius Garland, Brandon Ingram and their younger pieces. Watson would give them a 23-year-old two-way forward who could grow with that group.

Bulls take a swing on Mathurin

Chicago’s end is fairly straightforward. The Bulls would send Okoro and two second-round picks to Los Angeles and come away with Mathurin.

Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints recently reported that a package involving Okoro and second-round draft capital could potentially be enough for the Clippers in a Mathurin sign-and-trade.

Mathurin, 24, would give Chicago another young scorer to add alongside Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson.

Would everybody sign off? That’s another matter entirely.

But as hypothetical three-team trades go, at least everyone can explain why they answered the phone.

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