The NBA’s restricted free agency season has ground to a halt, with the Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, and LA Clippers all tangled in contract standoffs. The Pistons are widely expected to eventually reach a deal with Jalen Duren, but the Nuggets and Clippers have been active in sign-and-trade talks for their own restricted free agents: Peyton Watson and Bennedict Mathurin, respectively. While a direct swap of those two players is not in the works, the teams could still find a mutually beneficial arrangement—and a third team, the Chicago Bulls, may provide the missing piece.

A proposed three-team trade, recently circulated in league circles, would send Watson to the Clippers via a sign-and-trade, while the Nuggets bring in veteran defender Kris Dunn and a valuable 2031 first-round pick originally from the Clippers (via the Raptors, part of the Kawhi Leonard blockbuster). The Bulls would land Mathurin, giving up Isaac Okoro and two second-round picks. This deal offers a creative solution for all three franchises, each facing different pressures.

For the Nuggets, the motivation is clear: they are unlikely to trade Watson unless they cannot reach a long-term extension. The two sides remain far apart in negotiations, and Denver fears Watson might accept the qualifying offer, risking losing him for nothing next summer. By acquiring Kris Dunn and a future first-rounder, the Nuggets avoid a significant drop-off in competitiveness. Dunn, one of the league’s premier guard defenders, would fill the backup point guard role—a critical need for a team that struggles defensively. While he is a downgrade from Watson, especially offensively, his impact on the defensive end would be immediate. The first-round pick also gives Denver a tradeable asset, something they have lacked.

The Clippers have long been linked to Watson, and this trade represents their best chance to land him. After trading Leonard, LA is reshaping its roster around Darius Garland, Brandon Ingram, and Keaton Wagler. Losing both Dunn and Mathurin this offseason stings, but acquiring Watson—a 23-year-old wing with high upside—provides a long-term building block. The cost is manageable: two second-round picks and Okoro, who is a solid but not elite asset. The Clippers would be getting Watson at a fair price, which is hard to pass up.

For the Bulls, the deal is a clear win. They add Mathurin, a 24-year-old guard who immediately upgrades their core. Chicago would only surrender Isaac Okoro and a pair of second-rounders, a low price for a player of Mathurin’s caliber. As ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel reported last week, “Giving up Isaac Okoro and some second-round picks would likely be enough to get the Clippers to sign off on a Mathurin sign-and-trade. This is definitely one of the smoothest and easiest paths to a deal for Los Angeles.” Mathurin would join a promising young group including Caleb Wilson, Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Norman Powell, and Nic Claxton, giving the Bulls renewed optimism.

Overall, the Nuggets are the most likely to hesitate, wary of losing Watson and harming their future. But from a financial standpoint, this deal keeps them competitive while adding draft capital. The trade, if executed, would reshape the trajectory of all three teams, with Watson heading to the Clippers, Mathurin to Chicago, and Denver gaining a defensive stopper and a future pick.