The Denver Nuggets drafted forward Zeke Nnaji with the 22nd pick of the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft. He's the third-longest tenured Nugget behind only Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. But Nnaji hasn't been able to crack the rotation in six years, and the Nuggets need to move on from him this offseason, via a trade to any team that will take him on.
Nnaji was drafted with the hopes of backing up Jokic, but over the six years that followed, it was normal to see Nnaji wearing warmups and occupying the end of the bench. Nnaji didn't even start in the Nuggets' second-to-last game of the season against the Oklahoma City Thunder after both squads sat their starters for rest before the playoffs.
The good news is that Nnaji's contract went from $8.1 million last year to $7.4 million for 2026-27, but the bad news is that if the Nuggets don't trade Nnaji this year, they're most likely stuck with him in 2027-28 at the same price when his player option kicks in.
Because no way Nnaji isn't taking that option. Nnaji's four-year, $32 million extension was signed prior to the 2023-24 season, and according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Nnaji was supposed to "play a more prominent role in the defending champions' lineup." It never came to fruition.
The Nuggets need to attach Nnaji in a trade
The Nuggets can't let another offseason go by without packaging Nnaji alongside someone going out. Whoever gets dealt to make room for Peyton Watson's return needs to have Nnaji's name alongside theirs. But getting someone to take Nnaji's contract with that player option sitting there next year could be a difficult task.
Nnaji actually had the best season of his extension in 2025-26, averaging 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds over 52 games. Those aren't exactly the numbers other franchises see and say, "We have got to trade for this player." It's a difficult contract to move, much like Christian Braun's will be.
Braun's contract could one day put the Nuggets in a similar spot
Braun was extended prior to the 2025-26 season and took a step backward the year before his extension kicked in. It's not exactly the same scenario, but at an average of $25 million per year over five years, Braun's 12.0 points, 30.1% three-point percentage, and playoff flop on defense will be a hard sell. If the Nuggets don't deal Braun and it becomes a pattern of regression rather than showing signs of improvement, the Nuggets could get stuck with Braun, too.
But at least Braun would be serviceable. Nnaji hasn't played outside of garbage time, and he's never been a part of the rotation. The time has come for the Nuggets to stuff him into a trade. They're just going to have a problem finding someone to take Nnaji on.
Add us as a preferred source on Google