The Nuggets’ decision to move on from Julian Reese so quickly after the Peyton Watson sign-and-trade has the look of a move that needs explaining.
Reese came to Denver as part of the five-team deal that sent Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers and brought back future draft picks, plus the Washington Wizards’ two-way contract player. But before he ever had a chance to settle in, the Nuggets waived him. On the surface, it reads like a strange choice, especially since Denver had open two-way spots available.
That’s what makes the whole thing so puzzling. Reese was already under contract as a two-way player, and there didn’t appear to be an obvious reason to cut bait unless the Nuggets had some other plan in mind for those remaining spots. Without that explanation, the move looks like a miss.
And the numbers from Reese’s tiny NBA sample only make the decision harder to understand. The 6-foot-9 rookie power forward was signed by the Wizards to a two-way deal in February, then appeared in 13 games and made 10 starts to finish the season. In 30.9 minutes per game, he averaged 11.8 points and 10.5 rebounds, including one outing with 20 rebounds.
He also flashed a ceiling that was impossible to ignore. Reese had a game with 26 points and 17 rebounds, and he went 12-for-16 from the floor in that performance. For a player on a two-way contract, that’s the kind of production that gets attention.
It’s hard not to compare that to the reason Watson just landed a four-year deal worth an average annual value of $22 million. Watson’s payday was built largely on 15 games last January while Nikola Jokic was out, a stretch that convinced Denver he could sustain that level. Reese, meanwhile, showed enough in his brief run to look like a real depth option.
That’s especially true when you stack him against the Nuggets’ existing frontcourt depth. Reese would have made sense behind the rotation, and he would have still left Denver with room to add Bryce Hopkins, the Nuggets’ 49th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Instead, the team waived him despite having the flexibility to keep him.
The comparison to Zeke Nnaji only sharpens the criticism. Reese’s 13 games gave him a better early impression than Nnaji has managed across six years in Denver. Nnaji’s career highs are 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Reese already put up a 26-point, 17-rebound game in a much smaller window.
Maybe the Nuggets have a bigger plan for those two-way slots. Maybe they see something that hasn’t been made public yet. But until they say more, this looks like one of those front-office decisions that leaves fans shaking their heads.
In Other News...
Nikola Jokic Got Dragged Into A WNBA Debate And Fans Pounced
Lexie Brown found herself in the middle of a Nuggets-adjacent basketball argument after sitting down with Michael Porter Jr. on his Curious Mike YouTube channel and pushing back on his criticism of the WNBA. Browns broader point was simple enough: elite basketball is not defined by constant dunks or pure vertical explosiveness, and players can dominate with strength, balance, coordination and high-level decision-making just as much as with lift.
Nikola Jokic became the lightning rod for that point, and fans wasted little time reacting to the way Brown framed him in the conversation. Some disagreed with her take on his fundamentals, turning a discussion about skill and athleticism into another round of debate over what real basketball excellence looks like. [Read more 🡒]
Peyton Watsons Nuggets Playoff Absence Looks More Complicated Now
Peyton Watsons playoff absence for the Nuggets was already explained by a right hamstring strain, but the backstory around that decision has gotten a lot more layered. Watsons agent, Rich Paul, discussed the situation on a podcast and framed the choice as one that balanced short-term availability with the bigger picture of Watsons future, a reminder that postseason injuries can carry consequences well beyond one spring.
Watson eventually landed a major new contract, signing a four-year deal with the Cavaliers, and the financial context around his next step makes Denvers side of the story even more interesting. The Nuggets had been in the mix with an offer of their own, but the gap between what was available and what Watson ultimately secured helps explain why his playoff no-show now feels like more than just a hamstring issue. [Read more 🡒]
Jamal Murrays Mindset Says Everything About What The Nuggets Still Need
Jamal Murrays new four-year maximum extension with the Nuggets, worth $208 million, would be enough to change the daily habits of almost anyone. But Murray has made it clear he still wants his life, and his approach to the game, to be defined by something other than the paycheck. Even after locking in that kind of money, he has kept his attention on winning and on the kind of career he wants to build in Denver.
That mindset matters because it speaks to the tone the Nuggets still need around their core. Murray has emphasized that money is not his focus, choosing instead to stay grounded and think about the example he sets at home, especially for his younger brother. It is a small detail with a bigger point attached: for Denver, the challenge is making sure the standards in the room stay tied to basketball, not comfort. [Read more 🡒]