The Denver Nuggets are in the midst of some intriguing internal discussions, pondering whether they have the necessary assets to make a play for Celtics' star wing, Jaylen Brown. However, as it stands, they aren't being pegged as a prime destination for Brown just yet.
The Nuggets are in a tricky balancing act, trying to bolster their roster around their cornerstone, Nikola Jokic, while also aiming to re-sign restricted free agent Peyton Watson. The word around the league is that the Nuggets are confident they can retain Watson, but it might require parting ways with at least one starter to make it happen.
Among the non-Jokic starters, Aaron Gordon has been attracting the most interest from other teams. Despite this, the Nuggets seem keen on keeping both Gordon and Jamal Murray in the fold, which means they might look to move either Cameron Johnson or Christian Braun instead.
In other roster news, it appears Jonas Valanciunas won't be returning next season, and the same might be true for Tim Hardaway Jr.
Turning to the Toronto Raptors, they're gearing up for the possibility that backup forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili might explore the open market in free agency. Toronto is still hopeful of re-signing him before free agency kicks off on June 30, but Mamukelashvili is expected to draw significant interest, potentially commanding a sizeable portion of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, projected to be around $15 million next season.
Meanwhile, the Nets and Spurs have shown interest in free agent forward Rui Hachimura. Last season with the Lakers, Hachimura averaged 11.5 points per game with impressive shooting splits, making him a desirable option for teams looking to bolster their lineup.
Magic center Moritz Wagner could also be on the move, as he's reportedly open to leaving Orlando and is expected to have multiple suitors when he hits the open market.
The Hawks had previously explored a trade for Mavericks center Daniel Gafford before the February deadline, but only offered second-round picks. The Mavericks were aiming for a first-round pick in return for Gafford prior to the recent draft, but didn't manage to secure such a deal.
Lastly, Maccabi Tel Aviv shooting guard Lonnie Walker IV might be making a return to the NBA this summer. Walker, who has an NBA opt-out option until July 15, is expected to attract some NBA interest. His last stint in the league was with the Sixers during the 2024/25 season.
As the NBA offseason unfolds, these potential moves and signings could significantly reshape team rosters, setting the stage for an exciting new season.
In Other News...
Nuggets May Be Losing A Shooting Fix They Can't Afford To Replace
Tim Hardaway Jr. gave Denver the kind of perimeter pop the roster has been short on in recent years, and his fit was obvious during a strong season in Nuggets colors. But even with that value, the franchises financial picture makes a clean retention plan tough, which is exactly the problem when a useful shooting specialist hits free agency.
The squeeze gets tighter if Denver decides it needs to move Cam Johnson for cap relief, a step that would chip away at the teams three-point depth even further. If those moves come to pass, the Nuggets would be leaning harder on internal volume from Peyton Watson, Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic to keep the floor spaced, and that is a lot to ask when the roster already looks thin in the one area it can least afford to lose. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Just Sent A Surprising Message About Jalen Pickett's Future
Jalen Picketts place in Denver has taken a sharp turn after a brief but meaningful run with the Nuggets. The 32nd pick in the 2023 draft has appeared in 126 games for the team, a sign that the organization saw enough in him to keep developing him as a backcourt piece, even if his role never fully settled into something permanent.
Now the Nuggets are signaling a different direction as they sort through their guard rotation and look ahead to the offseason. Moving on from Pickett opens another question in a backcourt that already needs more handling and depth, and it leaves Denver weighing how to fill those minutes as it continues reshaping the roster around its core. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Pursuit Of Jaylen Brown Just Hit A Brutal Reality Check
Denvers interest in Jaylen Brown has been real enough to keep the idea alive, but the market around him has quickly made the conversation more theoretical than practical. Bostons stance has already put a heavy price tag on any potential deal, and for a Nuggets team built around contending now, the challenge is figuring out whether a swing that big still makes sense.
The bigger picture in Denver is still centered on Nikola Jokic, who remains the franchises anchor and, according to reports, is committed to staying despite the contract uncertainty hanging over the situation. With that as the priority, the Brown pursuit has cooled, and for the moment a move that once sounded intriguing now looks increasingly out of reach. [Read more 🡒]