The Nuggets are still piecing their roster together, and that means the final offseason verdict isn’t ready yet. Denver has 13 players on the standard roster, two open two-way spots, and Peyton Watson still in flux, so the picture can still change in a meaningful way. For now, though, there’s enough movement to start handing out individual grades and get a read on how this summer has gone.
Given the way Denver has had to operate, the exercise comes with a built-in caveat. The Nuggets are working under roster-building limits that leave them able to sign only minimum-salary players in free agency, which shrinks the talent pool fast. Even so, they tried to get creative around Nikola Jokic.
The best swing so far might be Marvin Bagley III, who earns an A-. Denver added a more athletic backup center than Jonas Valanciunas, and that alone makes Bagley a pretty appealing find.
The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft can also back up both Jokic and Aaron Gordon, which gives the Nuggets more flexibility than they had before. He’s the headliner among the free-agent additions, and his athleticism and spacing give him real upside.
Alpha Diallo comes in at B+. He was the EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year, and that kind of defensive juice is exactly where Denver needed help.
On the wing, he looks like a clear upgrade over Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. in that area. What his full NBA game will look like is still unknown, especially for the 29-year-old rookie, but the defensive intent here is obvious.
The draft brought another interesting piece in Trevon Brazile, who gets an A. Denver moved down from No. 26 to No. 35 and picked up Brazile plus two future first-round picks in the deal, which makes the trade itself an A+.
Brazile is still untested against NBA competition, but his Summer League play gave plenty to like. He’s athletic, he can hit threes, and he blocks shots well with his 6-foot-10 frame and crazy vertical jump.
For a league-minimum rookie-scale price, that’s strong value.
Tyus Jones is the move that drags the grade down, and it lands at D+. He’s a ball-control specialist, but that’s about where the upside stops, and Denver is left with a real gap behind Jamal Murray at point guard. With Jalen Pickett also gone, the Nuggets are putting a lot on Murray’s plate.
Spencer Jones, meanwhile, is an easy A+. Denver matched the Oklahoma City Thunder’s offer sheet to bring him back, and one front office executive called it a “no-brainer” value match. Keeping a rotation player on a $6 million contract is exactly the kind of smart business that matters for a team working with tight margins.
Bryce Hopkins is still waiting for a number, so he gets an incomplete. Denver’s other second-round pick looked good in Summer League, but he still hasn’t been signed to a two-way deal. If he gets one, he’d make a lot of sense as a big, physical wing who can shoot and drive to the rim.
Lonnie Walker IV also remains incomplete for now. He’s coming in to compete for a roster spot in training camp, which keeps him in the mix without making him a true addition yet. He looks like insurance if Denver makes another trade connected to the Peyton Watson restricted free agency situation.
So the early overall grade sits at C. The Nuggets deserve credit for the creativity of the summer, from finding Diallo overseas to landing a talented second-rounder while saving money in the draft. Bagley also looks like a real upgrade over Valanciunas, with more flexibility attached.
Still, the Tyus Jones move is hard to ignore. Denver needed more behind Murray, and instead the depth chart looks thin. That lack of guard depth is what keeps the grade from climbing any higher.
In Other News...
Peyton Watson Just Became Part Of A Bigger Nuggets Decision
The Cavaliers pause on Jonathan Kuminga has shifted their attention toward a different young wing with Denver ties, and Peyton Watson suddenly sits in the middle of a decision that could matter well beyond Cleveland. The Nuggets restricted free agent has drawn interest as a potential sign-and-trade target, with Cleveland looking at him as a fit for a wing spot it wants to upgrade.
To get there, the Cavaliers are also working the math, including possible ways to clear cap room by shopping veteran Dennis Schrder. For Denver, that makes Watson more than just another name in the rumor cycle, because any meaningful movement now has to account for whether the Nuggets are willing to engage on a deal for a player they still control. [Read more 🡒]
Jokic And The Nuggets Get An Early Test Fans Will Obsess Over
The Nuggets will get their first real measuring stick of the new season on Oct. 22, when they open in Oklahoma City against the Thunder at Paycom Center. It is the kind of early matchup that immediately tells you something about where a team stands, and this one brings together the last two MVPs in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic while Denver tries to put last seasons first-round exit behind it.
For the Nuggets, the timing makes it even more intriguing because the roster they bring back looks largely familiar, with the core intact as they head into another title chase. One subplot still hanging around the margins is Peyton Watsons contract situation, but the bigger picture is the same one that will follow Denver from opening night on: whether this group can start sharper and avoid letting a strong regular-season base turn into another short postseason stay. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Face A Peyton Watson Standoff With Real Wing Depth Stakes
The Nuggets are still working through a delicate summer negotiation with Peyton Watson, and the broader issue goes beyond one contract number. Denver has put a deal in the range of $16-18 million per year on the table for the restricted free agent, a figure that signals how much the team values his length, defense and potential on the wing. For a roster that has spent years chasing enough reliable depth around its core, keeping Watson in the fold has taken on real roster-building significance.
There is still a path where the talks drag on and the sides never fully line up, which would leave Denver juggling both short-term rotation needs and long-term control of the player. Watson's market is not just hypothetical, either, with Cleveland emerging as a noteworthy suitor if the Nuggets decide to explore a sign-and-trade. For Denver, the stakes are obvious: either secure a young wing before the situation hardens, or risk watching a useful piece become part of a much messier decision down the road. [Read more 🡒]