The Denver Nuggets may have found a young forward who can give them something they badly need.
Trevon Brazile, the No. 35 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, signed a four-year, $9.3 million contract with Denver and wasted no time flashing why the team brought him in. In the Nuggets’ Summer League game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night, Brazile was on fire from the start and finished with a huge stat line: 32 points, six rebounds and one steal on 11-of-19 shooting from the field and 6-of-12 from three.
The first half was where he really took over. Brazile poured in 19 points while hitting 6 of his 8 shots overall and 5 of his 6 attempts from beyond the arc. He kept rolling after halftime, and by the end of the night he had put together one of the most eye-catching performances of the game.
He even capped the half with a wild buzzer-beater in the final second, and his teammates erupted as they surrounded him heading into the break.
Denver could use more young talent on the roster, even with a solid foundation in place. The team could also potentially lose Peyton Watson to restricted free agency this summer, which only adds to the need for an infusion of youth.
Brazile, who is 23 and stands 6-foot-10, brings a mix of size, shooting and defensive ability. He isn’t the most consistent player, but when he gets hot, he can really light it up from deep.
That kind of spacing from a forward is exactly the sort of thing that can fit next to Nikola Jokic. Shooting with size always matters in the NBA, and Brazile showed on Tuesday that he can provide it.
If he can even come close to that level of three-point shooting for Denver, the Nuggets will feel very good about this pick. He still has room to develop, too, which only adds to the appeal.
It’s only Summer League, and overreacting to it is always a risky move. But Brazile’s showing against Oklahoma City was a strong first impression, and it gave Nuggets fans a real reason to pay attention.
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For Denver, the move closes the book on the idea of Valanciunas as a backup answer behind Nikola Jokic, at least for now. The Nuggets had been trying to manage their roster and salary commitments carefully, and Valanciunas limited playoff role against Minnesota only underscored how little runway there was for the partnership to grow before the sides went separate ways. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets May Be Running Out Of Time To Keep Peyton Watson
Peyton Watsons rise has put the Nuggets in a familiar spot for a team trying to stay competitive while keeping the books under control. The young forward gave Denver real production last season, showing the kind of two-way value that makes a restricted free agent hard to replace, but also hard to fit if the price keeps climbing.
Because of those cap pressures, Denver is at least open to exploring a sign-and-trade rather than simply trying to match any offer sheet and hope for the best. The Clippers have surfaced as a possible partner in those talks, and while nothing is finalized, the idea underscores how quickly a promising homegrown piece can turn into a roster decision with real payroll consequences. [Read more 🡒]
Peyton Watsons Future Just Got Pulled Into The Kawhi Leonard Drama
Peyton Watsons future in Denver has suddenly been tied to a deal that has nothing to do with the Nuggets on the surface. The stalled Kawhi Leonard trade between Toronto and the Clippers is now casting a shadow over Watsons restricted free agency, because Los Angeles has interest in the young forward but needs the broader transaction with the Raptors to move forward in the way it wants.
Denver has made clear it is not interested in moving Watson cheaply, and the Clippers have not been eager to meet that price. Watsons breakout season was cut short by hamstring issues, but his value around the league has only grown, which is why the Nuggets were prepared to match outside interest. For now, though, the next step in his market may depend less on Denver than on whether the Raptors-Clippers deal finally gets unstuck. [Read more 🡒]