The Denver Nuggets are heading into media day with more to sort through than usual, and a few questions are going to hang over the room when players, coaches, and front office voices finally get in front of the microphones.
One of the biggest is the Peyton Watson sign-and-trade. Denver dealt the 23-year-old wing to the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason and brought back an unprotected 2031 first-round pick and a 2032 second-round pick. It was not a move that landed well with Nuggets fans, especially after the season Watson just put together and the upside he flashed as a possible franchise cornerstone.
Someone from the top of the organization - whether it’s Josh Kroenke, Ben Tenzer, or Jon Wallace - is going to have to explain it. The cleanest version of that answer is pretty easy to see coming: praise Watson as a strong player and person, then point to the team’s financial realities and the value of the unprotected 2031 first-rounder as the reason the deal happened.
Aaron Gordon is another major storyline. If Denver is going to have a real shot at a better season, it needs him available.
That’s been the problem lately. He played just 36 games last season and missed three of Denver’s six playoff games.
The year before that, he got into 51 games and wound up pushing through injury in the postseason.
His health will be a central topic at media day because the two extended absences he dealt with last season both came from hamstring strains. That’s exactly the kind of issue the Nuggets need him to put behind him. A positive update would go a long way toward calming some nerves about the season ahead.
Then there’s Nikola Jokic and the contract situation that keeps following him. He has passed on signing an extension in each of the last two offseasons, and after reports surfaced that he plans to wait until 2027, he told reporter Marko Ljubomirovic, "My idea is to sign next summer and stay in Denver for the rest of my life."
Even with that statement, the questions aren’t going away. Since then, Denver moved on from Peyton Watson and still hasn’t made a clear case that it is fully building around Jokic for another title push. The Nuggets are mostly bringing back the same group that was bounced in the first round last season, and some would say the roster took a step back after Watson and Tim Hardaway Jr. were replaced by DeMar DeRozan and Marvin Bagley III.
Jokic will be asked about it at media day, and the Nuggets would benefit from hearing him repeat that commitment out loud. It won’t lock anything in place until he signs, but another public promise would at least give the fanbase something to hold onto.
In Other News...
Christian Braun Could Unlock A Different Nuggets Offense This Season
Christian Braun entered Nuggets media day sounding like a player who knows exactly where the next leap has to come from. After ankle injuries hampered both his defense and his three-point shooting last season, Braun pointed to shooting as the biggest area he wants to sharpen this offseason, a clear sign that Denver views his development as more than just a side storyline.
Braun also said he feels healthy and ready to go for the new season, which matters for a Nuggets team that needs more reliable spacing around its core. If his shot comes along the way he wants it to, Denver could end up with a different kind of offense this year, one with another wing defender who can also force defenses to make tougher choices. [Read more 🡒]
Jokic Just Gave Nuggets Fans A New Reason To Worry
Nikola Jokic has never acted like a superstar who wants the spotlight, but this offseason has made it clear the attention is wearing on him more than usual. He has been loyal to the Nuggets, yet the constant pull of his fame is starting to change how he navigates everyday life, and that is the kind of shift Denver fans tend to notice because it says as much about the grind of stardom as it does about the player himself.
For the Nuggets, the bigger concern is what comes next. Rival teams are already keeping an eye on Jokics contract timeline ahead of next summer, when he could sign an extension or potentially head toward free agency, and analysts are already mapping out the kind of historic deal that could be waiting if he stays put in Denver. The only real question now is how long the Nuggets can keep a player of his stature comfortable enough to make staying the obvious choice. [Read more 🡒]
Jokic Just Eased One Nuggets Fear While Keeping Another Alive
Nikola Jokic gave the Nuggets something close to peace of mind when he said he plans to sign a contract extension with Denver next year, even as he heads into this season on an expiring deal. The two-time MVP made clear the delay is a business choice, not a sign of tension, and it aligns with the confidence coming from the front office, where executive vice president Ben Tenzer has spoken positively about the relationship.
Still, the story does not fully go away just because Jokic has eased one fear. The Nuggets can feel better knowing where his intent appears to be, but the calendar still leaves room for the unexpected, with circumstances potentially changing before he has the chance to put a new contract in place in July 2027. For a franchise built around him, that means the relief is real, but it is not yet final. [Read more 🡒]