The Nuggets came out of nowhere on Sunday to sign free agent guard Javante McCoy. McCoy likely won’t take the 15th roster spot, but will get a training camp deal and compete for a spot with the Grand Rapids Gold G-League team.
Free agent guard Javante McCoy has agreed to a deal with the Denver Nuggets, his agent Daniel Hazan of @hazansportsmgmt tells me. pic.twitter.com/Zb8knnkUuo
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) September 21, 2025
McCoy, a 6’7” 27-year-old, was undrafted out of Boston University. He has spent the past few years bouncing around various G-League squads, but hasn’t come close to cracking an NBA rotation, and missed most of last year with a season-ending injury.
Signing McCoy follows the pattern that the Nuggets have been going for all summer, adding long, rangy wings that can shoot and play defense. That has been McCoy’s calling card for his whole playing career, and whether there is an NBA-quality player inside there or not, Denver aims to find out.
McCoy offers nothing more than a lottery ticket
This signing makes very little sense on the surface, as McCoy is already 27 and has given no real indication that he’s ever going to be an NBA player. Denver is in full-blown win-now mode and will be competing for titles for the foreseeable future.
It’s an odd move in that sense, but it’s just another opportunity for the Nuggets to take a shot on a player who may have more to offer in a new system. He’s got the size, shooting, and athleticism that the Nuggets are looking for, and on the off chance that he’s able to break out, that would be a massive win for the franchise.
It’s very clear that the Nuggets are looking for versatile wings between Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, with McCoy just being the latest example. They have also added Cam Johnson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and even taken a chance on Kessler Edwards.
It’s unlikely that all of these players end up making an impact for the Nuggets, but the team is likely looking ot hit on a few, and the more cracks at the apple, the better. The best part of this move is that the Nuggets didn’t fill their final roster spot or two-way spot.
There’s no real risk going into this move, and the potential upside is obvious. If it doesn’t work out, there was no harm in trying, and Denver will still be able to add more players if they so choose.
It’s a smart way to conduct business, and a way that presents nothing but opportunity. If it ends up working out, great, and if not, no harm in trying.