The Denver Nuggets have an open roster spot. They've been carrying just 14 out of 15 possible standard contracts since before the season started, so naturally, they're curious about filling that spot. But they made the right call by not filling it with Nique Clifford, who was traded from the Sacramento Kings to the Oklahoma City Thunder for two future second-round picks. Because the Nuggets are filled with wings and still need a better backup point guard behind Jamal Murray.
The Nuggets expressed interest in Clifford before he was traded, according to Michael Scotto. It makes sense given that they have the extra roster spot available, and Clifford was productive last season for the Kings after being selected 24th in the 2025 NBA Draft. However, he seemed to have fallen out of favor in SacTown and had only seen 6.3 minutes per game over the team's first eight.
But stopping right there, with only interest, was the right move. The Nuggets simply don't need another wing, especially with the emergence of second-round pick Bryce Hopkins available in the same spot.
Hopkins is the better fit for the Nuggets
Clifford may not have fit well with what the Nuggets need anyway. He only shot 33.3% from three last year, and he's not very physical.
However, Hopkins doesn't shy away from contact, and he almost seeks it out as he gets downhill on drives to the rim. Hopkins had 18 points while filling in as the main wing for DeMar DeRozan in the Nuggets' 128-109 win over the Toronto Raptors at home. The Nuggets need that physicality and rim-attacking prowess, two things that eluded them last year when they fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs.
And Hopkins can knock down a three, too. He's shooting 2-for-5 over his first six appearances. But besides Hopkins being a better fit than Clifford, the Nuggets also still need to potentially plug the hole at backup point guard.
Tyus Jones still isn't the season long-answer at backup point guard
It probably sounds like a broken record by now, but the Nuggets can't keep pretending that Tyus Jones is going to be the right backup point guard behind Murray. Jones has finally started picking up his assist total, with 12 over the past two games. But he just hasn't had the look of the role. The Nuggets are a -11.4 net rating differential with Jones on the court per 100 possessions. They're 110.4 on offense and 121.7 on defense over his 89 minutes of action. Yuck.
The Nuggets have more of an issue with the non-Murray minutes than they do with the non-Nikola Jokic minutes this year. Filling the hole behind Murray is the most pressing need for the 15th roster spot, and it makes sense that the Nuggets decided to let their interest go on Clifford in the end.
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