Free agency is off to a quiet start around the league as the 2026-27 season window kicks off, but the Nuggets have already missed out on two free agent targets. Tim Hardaway Jr. took the $6.5 million mid-level exception to sign with the Miami Heat, fully pricing himself well out of the Nuggets' range. But the Nuggets dodged possible disaster by missing out on Bogdan Bogdanovic, and they should send the Houston Rockets a thank-you note for alleviating the Nuggets of a future headache.
It was a late-night signing, and ESPN's Shams Charania dropped the news that one of Nikola Jokic's close friends and former Serbian national teammate had taken his talents elsewhere. Thank you, Houston.
Bogdan isn't the Bogdan that he used to be. In 2023-24, Bogdanovic averaged 16.9 points and played 30.4 minutes a game for the Atlanta Hawks, finishing in fifth place for the Sixth Man of the Year Award. But injuries have mounted, and he played in just 54 games in 2024-25 while averaging 10.8 points split between the Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers, and those numbers dropped to just 23 games and 7.4 points in 2025-26.
The Nuggets didn't need a locker room guy
Bogdanovic would have been great in the locker room for Jokic to pal around with, and could have kept the big fella "happier" having his buddy around. But the Nuggets don't need a locker room presence because they have Aaron Gordon to bring the vibes. The Nuggets need serviceable help, and Bogdanovic may not have been able to crack the rotation.
The Nuggets' loss of Hardaway opens up the door for the Nuggets to take an extended look at putting Julian Strawther into the rotation, and Bogdanovic likely would have just slotted in at the end of the bench.
Strawther, a former first-round pick, is an excellent three-point shooter, making 38.7% of his attempts last year, and he can get downhill and attack the rim. His defense is shaky, but it's still probably much better than anything Bogdanovic would have given the Nuggets.
The Nuggets will have a tough time finding good minimum contract help
The Nuggets will face some problems in free agency if the opening window is any indication. Hardaway's raise was deserved, but it shows that playable talent will be harder to find on a minimum contract this year.
The Nuggets may even have to wait out the initial signing window to pick through the unsigned players when the dust starts settling on the opening of the offseason window. At least they dodged a regret in missing out on Bogdanovic.
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