The Denver Nuggets are well above the NBA's luxury tax threshold, and even without re-signing Peyton Watson, they're flirting with the second apron, where additional tax penalties await. As such, they're going to be searching for bargain-bin free agents to sign next year. The Nuggets should have Keon Ellis high on their list, so they can snag the surprisingly popular free agent before some other team comes along.
Ellis is coming off a poor playoff performance for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but that almost seems par for the course for the fourth-year guard. Lots of upside, shows flashes, but nothing sustained yet.
Sure, he was squeezed out of a rotation spot for the most part, as happens to players on the fringe. But that could diminish his value, giving the Nuggets an even better chance to swoop in.
Ellis is solid and a good fit for the Nuggets
While Ellis may not have fit in with the Cavs and lost his regular-season rotation spot, he would fit in just fine with the Nuggets. The Nuggets could have used a player like Ellis on the perimeter against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Ellis is a strong perimeter 3-and-D wing who averaged 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks per game in 24.8 minutes off the bench for the Cavs in 29 games after being acquired from the Kings near the trade deadline. He's got much more intensity on defense than the Nuggets saw from Tim Hardaway Jr. or Bruce Brown against the Timberwolves, which would be a breath of fresh air.
The defensive upgrade in the backcourt would be immediate for the Nuggets. They need help in free agency on the defensive side of the ball first, and on the offensive and three-point side second. But Ellis can actually knock down a three pretty well, too, as a 3-and-D wing should.
Ellis saw his three-point percentage slip to 36.3% this season, down from 43.3% in 2024-25, but he's at 40.7% for his career. Ellis would have no problem slotting into the Nuggets backcourt and hitting the kick-out from Nikola Jokic.
Ellis just makes sense for the Nuggets to target
The Nuggets have got to have Ellis on their radar. At his price, and the hole he fills with the offensive edge the Nuggets love to have, the three-ball, he just makes too much sense to ignore. Did I mention price?
There's a good chance the Cavs accidentally played Ellis into a lower market price, which is even more advantageous for the Nuggets. The only problem may be Ellis' popularity. Bargain 3-and-D wings are hard to come by.
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