By this point in the offseason, most fans know that the Denver Nuggets are in a bit of a salary cap bind. That's putting it nicely. They're well past the salary cap limit. And well past the luxury tax threshold and the first- and second-apron penalty thresholds, too. They're on course for the same issue next year unless they make roster changes. That's why any relief from a better salary cap projection for 2027-28 would be greatly welcomed. The good news: projections are already starting to come in higher.
The Nuggets are currently $3.15 million over the second-apron mark of $221.6 million for the 2026-27 season. And that's after trading away Peyton Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers and cutting backup center Jonas Valanciunas to save $8 million against the cap. It's limited them to only signing veterans and rookies like second-round draft pick Trevon Brazile to minimum contracts. The maneuverability is tough for the Nuggets.
A higher salary cap will give the Nuggets much needed extra flexibility
The latest salary cap projection for the 2027-28 season has come in $2 million higher than originally thought, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic.
The NBA has informed teams of its updated salary cap projections for the 2027-28 season, league sources tell @TheAthletic:
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) September 12, 2026
• $176 million salary cap
• $213 million luxury tax line
The new projection comes in $2 million higher than the league’s last one.
The Nuggets will need every million they can get. Based on these projections, the second apron will be about $14.8 million higher for the 2027-28 season, at $236.5 million. But the Nuggets already have a big problem. Their core players' salaries are set to increase right along with that number.
The Nuggets currently have seven players under contract for 2027-28: Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Spencer Jones, Zeke Nnaji, and DaRon Holmes II. Their total increases by $13.8 million. That's why every million is critical to the Nuggets.
On top of that, the seven players' salaries already come in well above the salary cap limit, at a total of $195 million and some change. Of course, everyone hopes the Nuggets will be able to figure something out with Nnaji for this current season to get the Nuggets back under the second apron line. But if not, he'd be a good candidate to be cut to waive and stretch his salary, like the Nuggets did with Valanciunas. And Holmes has a team option for $5.5 million that they will likely decline, freeing up more space.
The Nuggets will be in better shape next year
That would leave the Nuggets with about $184 million on the books, but only five players under contract. However, they would be well under the penalty aprons and in a lot better shape to sign free agents. Holmes and Nnaji's contracts clogged up the wiggle room this offseason.
The Nuggets could re-sign Cameron Johnson for a few million less, and there could be even more wiggle room. It's still not the ideal situation, but the added salary cap projection provides the Nuggets with needed relief, million by million.
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