Report: Atlanta Hawks Target Could Take Qualifying Offer From Denver Nuggets

The Atlanta Hawks have been linked to a lot of names this summer, including Denver Nuggets restricted free agent Peyton Watson.

The 23-year-old remains on the market this offseason even though he has received interest from multiple teams, with his current squad among them.

Now, there is a notable wrinkle to consider: Watson has reportedly been weighing the idea of taking Denver's qualifying offer to set up a path to unrestricted free agency next summer.

"League sources say Watson, like Detroit's Jalen Duren, has been weighing the unappealing prospect of playing out the 2026-27 season on a qualifying offer with the intent to become an unrestricted free agent next summer," wrote NBA insider Marc Stein. "Actually doing so, mind you, means leaving millions on the table.

"In Watson's case, specifically, that would mean playing next season for just $6.5 million. The Nuggets' initial pitches were believed to be in the $70 million range over four years, which would be well shy of the $25 million in annual average value that Christian Braun received from Denver in a five-year, $125 million rookie scale extension last October. As The Stein Line has reported previously, Watson is hoping to exceed those figures this summer."

Denver's situation with Watson isn't helped by the fact that the team just matched an offer sheet on wing Spencer Jones, increasing the Nuggets' projected tax penalty and moving them into the second apron. That makes sign-and-trade scenarios with Watson tougher, a reality that trickles down to his other suitors and may impact how the Hawks proceed.

If Watson isn't satisfied with his options, biting the bullet for one season and playing on the $6.5 million qualifying offer may be worthwhile if he can turn it into a bigger payday next summer.

The last pick in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft, Watson has become a success story at the NBA level. He was primarily a bench piece in his first three seasons before breaking out this past season for the Nuggets.

Across 54 appearances and 40 starts in the 2025-26 season, he averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from beyond the arc.

At his age, there is a lot to be excited about, as he could reach even greater heights. He got a taste of the ultimate prize in 2023 when he was on the Nuggets team that won the NBA Finals, but he didn't have much of a role. Now, he has established himself as a winning player and appears ready to help a team push for another championship.

Whether that will be in Denver or elsewhere is the question.

While the Hawks would certainly love to bring him in, another obstacle to consider is that the Nuggets have reportedly been asking for a whole lot in sign-and-trade scenarios. With Denver now in the second apron as well, it simply feels like there is a lot in the way of Watson coming to Atlanta right now.

But if he does take the qualifying offer with the Nuggets and then hits unrestricted free agency next summer, that could open the door for the Hawks to circle back again if their efforts this offseason fall short.