The moves may not be flashy on paper, but the Denver Nuggets continue to make smart money decisions on the margins to improve the roster. They've had to shave many millions in salary to try to be within striking distance of ducking under the NBA's second apron luxury tax penalty threshold. And they've likely upgraded the bench over last season while doing so. Peyton Watson, not included, of course.
But retaining Watson would have meant either a historical luxury tax penalty or a larger move to get their salary issues under control, like trading Aaron Gordon instead.
Sure, losing Watson stings, but it would also sting for the Nuggets to have another frozen draft pick by finishing the season over the second-apron mark, which is the roster-building penalty that accompanies the threshold violation at season's end. What they've done while staying close enough to dump Zeke Nnaji or Julian Strawther along with a couple of second-round picks to get back under the threshold while improving the bench needs to be praised.
The Nuggets made savvy roster moves
The first thing the Nuggets did was move down in the draft from 26th to 35th to save a couple million. They signed their pick, Trevon Brazlie, to a four-year, $9.3 million deal that included a rookie-scale minimum of $1.357 million for this season. They followed that by signing the best defender on the market who was available for that same value, Alpha Diallo, the EuroLeague's Best Defender for 2025-26. He may be a 29-year-old rookie making his NBA debut, but he's comparable to Watson on the defensive end of the court and he should see major minutes with the second unit.
They also upgraded at the backup center position by snagging the second overall pick in the 2018 draft, Marvin Bagley. Bagley is much more mobile and athletic than Jonas Valanciunas was. Then, they replaced Watson's scoring punch by signing six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan. Between Diallo and DeRozan, Watson is replaced. Both players are also upgrades over the departed Bruce Brown. The Nuggets also made a smart-money move to retain Spencer Jones by matching the offer sheet that the Oklahoma City Thunder tried to snatch him away with.
The two-way additions put the fringe work over the top
The final two moves of the offseason put it over the top for the work on the fringes. Cam Whitmore and Ryan Nembhard were both no-brainer moves on two-way contracts. Whitmore brings an abundance of athleticism and upside potential and could end up being a gem for the Nuggets if he develops. Nembhard is an upgrade over KJ Simpson, and he could be great support if something happens to Jamal Murray or Tyus Jones in front of him on the depth chart.
If everyone just moves past the loss of Watson and puts that chapter in the rearview mirror, it's easier to be happy with the roster moves on the fringes. And the Nuggets' front office should get credit for building a decent bench at the end of the day behind Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets' starting five.
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