The Denver Nuggets have found their latest two-way addition, and it comes with a clean fit for a roster that needed another ball-handler. Ryan Nembhard is set to join Denver on a two-way contract after being traded twice this offseason, waived by the Charlotte Hornets, and then clearing waivers.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the agreement, and the timing lines up with the end of Denver’s second day of training camp. Nembhard could be in Boulder by the end of the week.
To make the move happen, Denver will need to open up a two-way spot. According to The Denver Post’s Bennett Durando, the Nuggets are expected to waive KJ Simpson to clear the room.
From a team-building standpoint, this is the kind of swing that makes sense. Nembhard brings the sort of steady guard play Denver was looking for, and he has already shown he can handle real NBA minutes. In his rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks, he averaged 9.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 6.8 assists across 27 starts, while shooting 44.2% from the field and 40.4% from three.
He’s not stepping into a featured role in Denver, of course. Jamal Murray and Tyus Jones are ahead of him on the point guard depth chart, but Nembhard gives the Nuggets another option behind them - and one they believe could grow into a more useful backup than Jones.
The size is the obvious concern. Nembhard is listed at 5'11", and that can create problems in a playoff setting. Even so, the Nuggets view him as a surprisingly effective defender for his frame, and the tradeoff is straightforward: Denver gets more playmaking and ball security without taking on much risk.
That’s why the fit is appealing. The Nuggets already have Nembhard, Cam Whitmore, and Bryce Hopkins on two-way deals, giving them what the source describes as arguably the best two-way group in the NBA.
Still, there’s a human cost to the move. Simpson, who played college ball in Boulder, was a player who consistently appreciated the chance to come back to Colorado. He appeared in just six games for Denver last season and averaged 1.2 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists, but his rookie season with the Charlotte Hornets in 2024-25 was strong enough that some fans may not love seeing him moved out.
Even with that tradeoff, Denver’s choice is pretty clear: the Nuggets are betting on Nembhard’s passing, poise, and low-cost upside. It may not be a franchise-changing move, but it addresses a need without much downside.
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