The Nuggets’ search for a backup point guard does not need to run through D’Angelo Russell.
Russell was waived by the Memphis Grizzlies, who are trimming their roster to 15 players, and the expectation is that he’ll try to land with a contender. Denver fits the contender part, but not the rest of the logic. The Nuggets already have bigger roster and cap issues to sort through, and Russell doesn’t solve the ones that matter most.
The biggest reason to stay away is the second-apron problem. Denver still has one open roster spot, and there’s no urgency to fill it just for the sake of filling it.
The Nuggets are still the only team above the NBA’s upper luxury tax threshold penalty, sitting $3.15 million over the line. Bringing in Russell would only push that number higher, making it harder to get back under the mark before the trade deadline.
That matters because the deeper a team goes into the second apron, the tighter the squeeze becomes when it’s time to make a trade. Other teams know Denver will need to shed money, and that can complicate negotiations.
The Nuggets are also going to have to give up some of the draft picks they picked up this summer if they want to solve that issue. Adding Russell now only makes the path messier.
And the Nuggets already have a possible answer on the roster anyway.
DeMar DeRozan, a six-time All-Star, can handle backup point guard duties. That option has not gotten much attention, but it should.
DeRozan is not the same kind of ball-control specialist Tyus Jones is, yet he offers more everywhere else. He’s also done the distributor job before with the San Antonio Spurs, so this wouldn’t be unfamiliar territory.
Russell and DeRozan are both probably equally bad on defense, but DeRozan brings the stronger offensive game. He should be the one leading the bench unit, and his half-court vision fits the role well. His basketball IQ stands out, and his passing ability could help unlock more scoring from Denver’s second unit.
With that in mind, there’s no real case for the Nuggets to chase Russell now. They’ve handled the offseason a certain way, and this should be one spot where they keep that approach intact.
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For Denver, that kind of roster casualty is worth watching closely. If Nembhard clears waivers, he could draw interest from teams searching for backcourt depth, and the Nuggets are among the clubs mentioned in that conversation as they monitor the market for low-cost additions. Charlotte has already made a habit of reshaping its roster, including the earlier LaMelo Ball trade to Minnesota, so the possibility of another move down the line is very much alive. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Move On From Keon Johnson And Raise An Immediate Question
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Among the clubs that could at least take a look is Denver, where roster flexibility always matters and any extra wing depth tends to draw attention. Johnsons case is built around his energy and the possibility that a team could still see room for development, but for now his next stop remains unsettled as interested teams sort through their options. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Face A Telling Decision On Their Young Wing's Future
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The timing matters because this is the only player on the roster eligible for a rookie-scale extension before the 2026-27 season, which gives the Nuggets a narrow window to weigh potential against finances. If his play takes another step and the teams salary-cap picture loosens down the road, a new contract could come back into focus, but for now the organization seems to be approaching the situation with patience rather than urgency. [Read more 🡒]