When the Denver Nuggets go to make their anticipated salary dump trade of either Cameron Johnson or Christian Braun, or even perhaps Jamal Murray or Aaron Gordon, the Nuggets should focus on finding a sixth man to replace the possible outgoing Tim Hardaway Jr. The Nuggets don't need to just dump the entire salary, and there should be targets available on the market that match what the Nuggets are looking for in terms of savings and the talent they acquire via trade.
The Nuggets will need to save a bunch of cap space to stay under the NBA's second apron tax threshold, projected to be near $220-221 million. They currently sit at nearly $217 million before re-signing Peyton Watson, and the expected range on his contract looks to be anywhere from $18 million per year all the way up to $30 million on the higher projections.
The front office has to be creative, but it could work
But if the Nuggets can get lucky and keep Watson to a backloaded deal that starts at $16 million for 2026-27, that puts them at $233 million, and clearing Cam for someone like Isaiah Stewart of the Detroit Pistons, who just hit the trade market, would save the Nuggets $8.9 million. Stewart is exactly the type of player the Nuggets should be trying to land in a Cam trade or even a deal that involves Braun.
The Nuggets will likely trade, cut, or waive and stretch Jonas Valanciunas, freeing up $8 million on the low side. Now the Nuggets are back to about $217 million, but they need to fill roster spots. Ok, small problem, but they have a solid sixth man in Stewart.
This is where it gets hard. But not impossible for the Nuggets, and they still come out in a decent spot. They could trade Braun for someone like Naji Marshall of the Dallas Mavericks and absorb AJ Johnson in the deal. They're downgrading from Braun, but not a whole lot, and saving another $8.9 million.
The Nuggets would fill out the roster with minimum contracts
So now, at this point, the Nuggets have filled the Valanciunas spot with AJ Johnson, and the Nuggets have $8.9 million to sign a couple of minimum contract vets. Someone like Keon Ellis would be a great fit for a 3-and-D wing off the bench, and if the Nuggets could fill the last spot with Precious Achiuwa, they'd be a defensive team with an offensive upside punch.
The Nuggets could go big with Stewart and move Marshall to the bench, or keep Stewart on the bench for Marshall. Either way, this Nuggets squad wouldn't be too bad. They'd be under the second apron, but the front office and ownership would still be on the hook for extra taxes for being a repeater of the luxury tax in three of the last four years.
The Nuggets can still field a good team and come in under the second apron. But if the Nuggets decide to duck the luxury tax, all bets are off, and it could be a long year in the Mile High City.
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