The Denver Nuggets suffered an embarrassing first-round playoff exit at the hands of their rivals, the Minnesota Timberwolves. That may have only been the first crushing loss of the year for the Nuggets and Nuggets fans, as the Nuggets may have to trade some fan favorites and icons in Nuggets lore if they choose to avoid tax penalties and rebuild around Nikola Jokic in a cost-cutting move.
The Nuggets only have 10 players currently signed, and they're well past the luxury tax threshold, which was a priority for them to get under this year. They did. And if they want to do the same for next season, some tough trades will have to be made to do it. If management doesn't want to pay up in penalties, these six Nuggets are the most likely to be sent out.
6. Zeke Nnaji
Zeke Nnaji has been with the Nuggets for six years, since being drafted in the first round in the 2020 draft. But Zeke hasn't cracked the lineup much, and he's carrying a $7.4 million price tag. He'll likely be an addition to any deal that involves the players to follow in this list.
5. Jonas Valanciunas
Jonas Valanciunas was a disappointment as Jokic's backup, and he flopped defensively as the anchor of the non-Jokic minutes, losing playing time to the small-ball unit. Big Val has a $10 million contract, but not all of it is guaranteed. The Nuggets can dump him before July 8th and eat $2 million, or they can match his salary for another team in a trade. A trade seems more likely than just eating the dead money.
4. Christian Braun
There weren't many Nuggets who had a more tumultuous season than Christian Braun. He signed a five-year, $125 million contract that kicks in next season. That is now more of a trap for the Nuggets than anything else.
He only averaged 12 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 31.8 minutes per game, playing in only 44 games due to injury. But he flopped in the playoffs, averaging just 8.3 points, and he never looked comfortable on the court.
The problem will be getting someone to take on that contract and getting a decent return.
3. Cameron Johnson
Cameron Johnson is here because the Nuggets have no space left to re-sign Peyton Watson. If the Nuggets want to build younger and try to keep P-Wat, Johnson is likely to go. Cam's on the hook for $23 million next year, and that money would go a long way to paying Watson.
2. Aaron Gordon
The first "big one," and not what you would have expected to see at any point, but that's what the Nuggets' playoff series exposed. Aaron Gordon played in only 36 games this year, after playing in just 51 last year, and in both years, he was injured during the playoffs.
Gordon missed three of the Nuggets' six games against the Timberwolves, and the big question is if AG will ever be healthy enough, long enough, to contribute to a playoff run. He's on the books for just under $32 million next year.
1. Jamal Murray
Never would have thought Jamal Murray would make this list, but that's how bad the blowup in Denver could get. Murray just had the best season of his career, made his first All-Star team, and his value has never been higher. Murray could bring in a huge haul for the rebuild, but it would be a sad sight to see for Nuggets fans.
Murray is owed $50 million for 2026-27, and that's a huge chunk of change when the Nuggets are already well past the luxury tax.
Add us as a preferred source on Google