The Denver Nuggets' new front office duo entered the offseason on a mission. They didn't have a pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, but a few days later, they made headlines during the first night of free agency for more than one reason.
Free agency officially began at 4 p.m. MT on Monday, June 30. The first hour and a half were quiet, but then things started to pick up. The notification that the Nuggets traded Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick to the Nets for Cam Johnson ignited a flame. Shortly after, Denver and Bruce Brown agreed to a one-year veteran's minimum deal.
The following day, the Nuggets agreed to a one-year veteran's minimum deal with Tim Hardaway Jr., who spent the 2024-25 season with the Pistons. Denver also pulled off yet another trade -- sending Dario Saric to Sacramento for Jonas Valanciunas. NBA fans (not just Nuggets fans) had to read that notification several times before it sank in. Denver got off Saric's contract for not only a rotation player, but a solid backup for Nikola Jokic.
The lone issue with the Nuggets' slew of moves is something that isn't their fault. On Thursday, Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews reported that Valanciunas was considering leaving the NBA to play for Greek club Panathinaikos. NBA insider Marc Stein confirmed it. On Friday, Stein reported that the center was "strongly tempted" to leave the NBA behind and return to Europe (subscription required).
Nuggets win the offseason with or without Jonas Valanciunas
The Valanciunas situation remains unresolved, but ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported on July 6 that the Nuggets informed the center's representatives that they expect him to honor his NBA contract. Valanciunas spoke at the B8 Basketball Summit in Lithuania on Tuesday, saying that they'd come up with a plan once the trade is finalized.
If Valanciunas is dead set on joining Greece and the Nuggets agree to buy his contract out, they'd have access to the full midlevel exception. Denver wouldn't be left high and dry.
Regardless of what happens with Valanciunas, the front office has done everything right so far this summer. They gained financial flexibility by trading MPJ, freeing up $17 million in cap space for the 2025-26 season. Everyone knew Denver would have to attach a draft asset to Porter to entice a team to take on his contract, but nobody thought the Nuggets would get Johnson in a deal. They also bolstered the bench, a major need after the team's lackluster depth the past two seasons.
Denver was one win away from advancing to the Western Conference Finals in the 2025 playoffs, coming up short against the eventual champion. The Nuggets ran out of gas. It was crystal clear what the front office needed to do to ensure that wouldn't happen again, and they delivered.