The Denver Nuggets have added another young piece as they keep shaping the roster ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Bryce Hopkins, the No. 49 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, has signed a two-way contract with Denver, giving him a path to split time between the Nuggets and the Grand Rapids Gold as a rookie. The move comes during a busy stretch for the franchise after a disappointing finish to the 2025-26 season, when Denver fell to Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs. Since then, the Nuggets have traded Peyton Watson for draft picks and signed veteran DeMar DeRozan.
Hopkins arrives with a college résumé that took him through Kentucky, Providence and St. John's over five years. In his final season with the Red Storm, the fifth-year senior posted 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 46.9% from the field and 36.3% from 3-point range.
At 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds, the 24-year-old brings size and enough versatility to give Denver a look as a possible role player. The Nuggets do not have much depth heading into the season, so there’s at least a chance Hopkins carves out a small spot in the rotation early. The more likely path, though, is a heavy dose of G League minutes with Grand Rapids.
If he performs well there, Hopkins could work his way into a bigger opportunity down the line. He may also get some run in Summer League, and a few strong outings there could help him push for more minutes sooner than expected.
A useful blueprint is Spencer Jones, who also began with Denver on a two-way deal. Jones went on to average 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 50.4% from the field and 39.6% from 3-point range in his second NBA season, appearing in 64 games and making 37 starts in 2025-26.
Training camps open across the league on Sept. 22, with the preseason beginning on Oct. 3 and running through Oct. 16. Denver will face Utah on Oct. 4 and Oct. 6 before closing its preseason schedule against the Bulls, Clippers and Lakers.
The regular season starts on Oct. 20 with three games, and the Nuggets open in Oklahoma City on Oct. 22.
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