Denver Nuggets fans knew that a trade was coming, not one that was going to make headlines, but still, a necessary move. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the Nuggets traded Hunter Tyson and a 2032 second-round pick to the Nets for a less favorable 2026 second-round pick between the Clippers and Hawks. The move puts them under the luxury tax and allows them to officially sign Spencer Jones to the main roster.
Precisely 11 minutes after Charania reported the trade, Chris Haynes reported that Denver will convert Jones' two-way contract to a standard NBA deal.
Denver Nuggets will convert swingman Spencer Jones from a two-way contract to a standard contract, league sources tell me. The rookie has had a standout campaign. pic.twitter.com/MGTan23xZq
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 5, 2026
Jones, who is 24, went undrafted in 2024. The Nuggets signed him to a two-way contract shortly after the draft. He appeared in 20 games last season, averaging only 6.3 minutes per contest. Little did fans know how big a role he would play this season.
As the injuries began to pile up, Denver turned to the forward, who is averaging 6.0 points and 3.1 rebounds in 23.6 minutes per game, shooting 50.5% from the field and 41.4% from three. He's started 34 of the 46 games he's played.
Because he was on a two-way contract, Jones was eligible to play in only 50 games for Denver this season, and he wouldn't have been eligible for the postseason. There wasn't a question of whether the Nuggets would convert him to a standard deal. It was a given that it would happen, and now it has.
Nuggets will convert Spencer Jones' two-way contract to standard NBA deal
Unfortunately, the injuries haven't stopped coming, with Peyton Watson leaving Wednesday's loss to the Knicks with a hamstring injury. He is expected to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. Jones's presence is even more important now, considering that Watson could miss a few weeks.
To think that the assumption was that Jones would spend most of the season in the G League. He impressed at training camp, and from there, the 3-and-D wing has worked to make the most of an unexpectedly elevated role.
Now, he'll get to help the Nuggets make it through the rest of the regular season and enjoy his first-ever playoff action. You can bet that there will be a post on LinkedIn not only about earning a standard NBA deal, but there will be one in a few months about what he learned during Denver's championship run. Or at least, that's what we're all hoping for!