The Denver Nuggets' offseason officially begins after a crushing first-round defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games. A shockingly early, feeble, first-round defeat. It could get ugly for the Nuggets this summer as they fight a high team salary and try to stay under the second apron tax in 2026-27.
There's no way everyone on the roster can come back. Some will, some won't. The money just doesn't make sense to bring everyone back. We know players like Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are penciled in unless something drastic happens. And after the flop against the Timberwolves, it just may.
But the Nuggets have a few players who are no longer under contract, and a few who no longer may make sense. And some of them won't be back next year.
8. Tyus Jones
Jones was just a buyout rental for depth at the end of the season and likely won't be back. He's not under contract for next year and will be a free agent.
7. Spencer Jones
Spencer Jones will also be a free agent next season after signing a minimum contract to finish the year out with the Nuggets. Jones had a fantastic season in 37 starts, filling in for everyone who missed time due to injury after starting the year out as depth on a two-way contract. He could be a cheap re-sign for depth, but for now, he makes the list without a firm deal in place for next year.
6. Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown will also be a free agent next year. Brown has been nice backcourt depth. He didn't miss a game all season, and he's been doing it on a minimum contract, showcasing his value for next season. But without a deal for 2026-27, he is on the list as well.
5. Tim Hardaway Jr.
Here's where it really starts getting tough. Tim Hardaway Jr. had a fantastic season on a minimum one-year contract, making a career-high 224 three-pointers, which earned him a Sixth Man of the Year Award nomination. That performance could have played him into a contract the Nuggets can't afford this summer when he hits free agency.
4. Jonas Valancianus
Jonas Valanciunas was brought in to replace Nikola Jokic directly in the non-Jokic minutes, and he did a mostly poor job at the top of the second and fourth quarters. He never really cracked the playoff rotation, and he's a perfect candidate to cut or trade before a contract lever kicks in and the Nuggets owe him $10 million for next year. The Nuggets can find a better value than Big Val to spell Jokic.
3. Cam Johnson or Christian Braun
Cam Johnson is due to make $23 million next year, and Braun's extension kicks in for $21 million. Would rather see Braun and that anchor of a contract go, but it could be hard to convince someone to take him off the Nuggets' hands via a trade after his poor regular season and playoffs.
That means Johnson would likely be dealt to clear cap space to re-sign Peyton Watson, unless the Nuggets suddenly decide to go over the second apron, and go for it with Jokic and Murray one last time. Either way, one of them will probably have to go for the cash-strapped Nuggets to make room for Watson.
2. Peyton Watson
And the big one, Peyton Watson. We all know he's a restricted free agent, and he's likely going to command a large contract. The Nuggets have a chance to match, but they have to make the financials work before they can do that. If they can't, P-Wat's gone.
1. Aaron Gordon
Aaron Gordon, Mr. Nugget, AG. Can't believe he's on the list, but he's on the list because the Nuggets could get a decent package in return for him and his $33 million contract. And it would get the Nuggets out from under what has become an injury concern on a nightly basis.
Will AG get healthy? That's been the question for months, and it's still a no. The Nuggets might want out of that whole mess and save money. It's a sad reality, because we all love AG. But the latest injury woes could have accelerated that push.
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