Bryce Hopkins has done enough in Las Vegas to make the Denver Nuggets think hard about how they want to keep him around.
The second-round pick, taken 49th overall in the NBA Draft, has spent Summer League showing a little bit of everything the Nuggets are looking for in a young wing. Through four games, he’s averaging 18.0 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 52.9% from the field and 35.7% from three.
That shooting number matters. One of the biggest questions that pushed Hopkins down the draft board was his jumper, but so far that concern has looked a lot less serious.
He’s also brought production on the other end. Hopkins has averaged 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocks, giving Denver more than just scoring to evaluate.
The appeal goes beyond the box score, too. Hopkins has played with real force, welcoming contact instead of avoiding it, and he’s shown he can use his size and frame to get downhill to the rim. That kind of slashing ability is useful, especially with the Nuggets’ roster as it stands right now.
And then there’s the part that should really get Denver’s attention: he’s starting to look like a shooter, too. In the Nuggets’ most recent Summer League game, Hopkins went 3-6 from beyond the arc. If that carries over, his value jumps fast.
That’s why the argument here is pretty simple. Denver can’t spend more than the minimum salary on anyone, and there may not be many better wing options left than Hopkins at this price point.
At the very least, he looks like a player worth locking into a two-way spot once Summer League ends. If the Nuggets wait, they risk losing those intangibles to someone else willing to take the swing.
There’s still room for caution, of course. Summer League can make almost anyone look a little shinier than they really are.
But Hopkins has shown enough to make the excitement feel justified. Even on a two-way deal, he could carve out real minutes if injuries open the door, just like Jones did last season.
Denver has until August 5th to secure his draft rights through the required tender or by signing him to a two-way or standard contract. The Nuggets should keep Hopkins in the fold.
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Recent NBA Move Just Made Denvers Next Costly Decision Feel Real
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For Denver, that kind of precedent lands with real weight. The Nuggets are staring at their own expensive roster questions, and the market for useful rotation players may not be as rich as teams hope when tax pressure starts to build. If the front office decides it has to make a move, the challenge will be finding enough value back to justify parting with a player who still fits the rotation and the long-term plan. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Offseason Is Exposing An Uncomfortable Jokic Era Truth
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That squeeze is showing up in the places Denver can least afford it. The Nuggets still have a glaring hole at backup point guard, with Jones the only clear answer there for now, and the market is thinning fast as teams sort through their own needs. Every passing day makes the remaining options more complicated, which is exactly the kind of offseason problem that can linger into training camp if Denver cannot find a cleaner solution. [Read more 🡒]
One Familiar Free Agent Keeps Hanging Over Denvers Final Roster Spots
Denvers roster math is still taking shape for the 2026-27 season, and the Nuggets already have 12 players on traditional contracts as they look toward the final few spots. That number could climb to 14 if Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones are brought back from restricted free agency, which would leave the front office with less room to maneuver as it sorts through the rest of the depth chart.
One familiar name hanging around the conversation is David Roddy, who appeared in five games for Denver last season and is said to be liked for his style of play. The fit is not simple, though, because the current roster leans heavily toward bigs and does not leave much breathing room for another guard-type addition, so any path back would have to make sense within a crowded and still unsettled build. [Read more 🡒]