The Nuggets continued their busy offseason on Tuesday, signing Kessler Edwards to an Exhibit 10 contract. Edwards is a 6’8”, 25-year-old wing who has bounced around the NBA and G-League for the past four years.
The Denver Nuggets and forward Kessler Edwards have agreed to a deal, league sources told @hoopshype. Edwards averaged 4.2 points on 49.6% shooting from the field and 40.7% from 3-point range in 40 games, including 18 starts, for the Dallas Mavericks last season. pic.twitter.com/4OTaLBY01n
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) August 12, 2025
The 44th overall pick in the 2021 Draft by the Brooklyn Nets, Edwards has shown a solid ability to defend and hit three-pointers at a 40% clip last season. But he has had a hard time carving out a meaningful role in an NBA rotation, hence agreeing to a training camp deal with the Nuggets.
Denver still has one open roster spot, and now Edwards will compete for that job during training camp and preseason. He has flashed upside throughout his career, and if he could maintain consistency, he has the size and physical tools to be a very solid role player.
Nuggets constantly searching for shooting and defense
Whether he sticks or not, the signing shows that the Nuggets are still looking for guys who can defend on the perimeter and shoot the three-ball. The team was badly lacking depth last season, but their biggest weaknesses were perimeter defense and three-point shooting.
They’ve done an outstanding job of addressing those issues this offseason, and clearly they’re not done. One could easily argue they’re biggest actual positional need remains a backup point guard, but they keep signaling that the position is not an urgent need.
For one, they could have easily brought back last season’s backup point guard, Russell Westbrook, who is still toiling in free agency, on a minimum deal, and they have shown no interest. They also haven’t added any other veteran point guard, and chose to use their final two-way spot on Curtis Jones, a wing shooter.
Nuggets appear content to play backup PG by committee
Instead, the Nuggets appear confident going into the season, playing point guard by committee behind Jamal Murray this season. Nikola Jokic is obviously capable of carrying a lot of the load, as he’s virtually a point center anyway.
Bruce Brown is capable and largely played that role during the 2023 title run, but he’s not a true point guard. Jalen Pickett is still around and should get some opportunities as well. And beyond that, the team has a bevy of playmakers and guys who can run the offense for a few possessions a game here and there.
If it doesn’t work out, there should still be plenty of opportunities to pivot during the season, but for now, the Nuggets aren’t prioritizing adding another ballhandler and seem much more focused on adding shooting and defense.