With the calendar about to flip to April, the NBA schedule is flying along and the Nuggets are now just eight games away from the end of the regular season. All of the focus is on getting healthy, getting into a rhythm, and having the team peaking at the right time as the playoffs start in just over a month.
For Denver, that means tightening and solidifying a rotation that has been grasping at straws to find depth and bench minutes all season. The backup minutes, especially in the frontcourt, have been a major issue and one the team still hasn’t fully solved.
Ultimately, they will likely go with the combination of DeAndre Jordan and Zeke Nnaji to try and survive the minutes when Nikola Jokic sits, but there’s a chance they just pivot to playing Aaron Gordon at center if the former options become untenable.
The Nuggets tried to address this situation last summer, but first-round draft pick DaRon Holmes tore his achilles in Summer League and was ruled out for the entire season. The team also added veteran Dario Saric in free agency, but that contract and signing has been a complete disaster.
Dario Saric considering leaving NBA for Real Madrid
Making the Saric signing even worse, is the fact that the Nuggets gave him a player option for the 2025-26 season. So, despite Saric proving to be unplayable, he can opt-in and guarantee himself over $5 million for next season - a deal that he would have no chance of getting on the open market.
But the Nuggets may have a surprising chance at a much-needed reprieve as a report has come out that Real Madrid, of the EuroLeague, has offered Saric a contract to come back over to Europe next season and Saric is reportedly considering it.
Real Madrid is considering signing Dario Saric this summer. Dario Saric is considering leaving the NBA and has been offered a deal. According to @webEncestando
— Luca D'Alessandro (@DAlessandro_LU) March 24, 2025
This would be a dream come true for the Nuggets to get off of this contract for next year. They would gain some invaluable financial flexibility and a roster spot that could go to much better use.
I don’t want to get overly excited, as this still seems almost too good to be true. Saric opting into his deal for next season seemed like a foregone conclusion given how poorly his season has gone. Most have already faced the reality that the Nuggets are going to have one more season of Saric on the roster at the taxpayer midlevel.
The fact that there’s even a possibility of getting off the deal this summer is amazing. This won’t have any bearing on the upcoming playoffs, but it’s excellent news going forward and could make for a much better offseason and future in Denver.