Denver Nuggets fans didn't know how lucky they were when the team drafted Christian Braun out of Kansas with the No. 22 overall pick in 2022. He played a bigger role than expected in the team's first-ever title run, and since then, his role has increased exponentially, so much so that fans are worried he might've played his way out of the Nuggets' price range.
Braun is one of a few Denver players eligible to sign an extension this summer. ESPN cap expert Bobby Marks predicted that the 24-year-old's new deal will be worth at least $30 million annually.
The Nuggets are projected to have a top-five payroll next season. Denver wants to avoid the second tax apron (a difficult task), which will take some extreme maneuvering by the front office (who the new GM will be is still unknown).
Keeping Braun in Colorado should be a priority, especially considering the team's lack of draft picks, but it won't be easy. It could mean moving on from Michael Porter Jr., who still has two full seasons left on his current contract. His trade value isn't high, though. Maybe the front office will think about a Jamal Murray trade, but that could hurt the team too much.
There are a lot of hurdles the Nuggets need to clear this summer to ensure that they can keep Braun for the long term.
Nuggets can sign Christian Braun to an extension this offseason
Braun averaged a career-high 15.4 points (up from 7.3 PPG in 2023-24), 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, shooting 58% from the field and 39.7% from three. He played 79 games and led the Nuggets in minutes played per game, 33.9. Braun blossomed into the durable, efficient wing that Denver needed.
In the days of the new-ish CBA, there is a risk that comes with a player performing too well. Bruce Brown left the Nuggets after the 2023 championship because the Pacers threw a bag at him. Fans remember how much that stung. They don't want to feel that again, but with Braun.
The sooner that Denver hires a new GM, the better. The new regime needs to establish what direction it wants to go in, and hopefully, it's building the best-possible team around Nikola Jokic. It'll require decisions that won't be easy. It could (and should) mean saying goodbye to a player(s) that helped the Nuggets win a title two years ago.
Even if Braun doesn't sign an extension before the 2025-26 season opener, that doesn't mean he'll be on his way out. He will be a restricted free agent next summer, but Denver shouldn't let his situation get to that point. Braun is a winner — the exact kind of player the Nuggets can't afford to lose.