The Denver Nuggets have a roster built to chase a title, but one weak spot has already shown up through five games: the backup point guard job.
Tyus Jones has not given Denver the kind of steady help it needs behind Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon, and that has pushed the Nuggets toward outside options. One of the names to watch is Kevin Porter Jr., who was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks and is still available nearly two weeks later.
Porter Jr. is not some throw-in guard looking for a camp invite. He just finished a productive season in Milwaukee, putting up 17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. Still, he remains unsigned, which has only added to the intrigue around Denver’s interest.
Last week, Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line said the Nuggets were among the teams to keep an eye on in the Porter Jr. market. As they wrote: "Yet several teams, sources say, are still evaluating their respective backcourts and could emerge as potential Porter suitors depending on how things unfold. Two such teams, according to sources, are Denver and Sacramento," they wrote.
Denver’s need is pretty straightforward. The bench has some playmaking, with Tyus Jones and DeMar DeRozan handling most of those duties, but the group could use another creator who brings more size, athleticism, and scoring punch. Ryan Nembhard is on a two-way deal as a third-string point guard, but he brings many of the same issues as Jones.
That’s why Porter Jr. makes sense on paper. He would give the Nuggets another ball-handler and a much more dangerous offensive option off the bench, especially at a time when the team is looking for extra firepower. Denver is satisfied with its starting five, but the second unit has taken hits after losing Tim Hardaway Jr. and Peyton Watson this offseason.
The Nuggets’ new bench group is not empty of useful pieces, and it should get a boost once Julian Strawther and Spencer Jones return from injury. Even so, the backup point guard spot still stands out as a problem if Jones remains the main answer.
There is also a trade angle to this. Before Milwaukee waived Porter Jr., Denver reportedly explored a deal for him.
Fischer reported that the Nuggets were willing to send two future second-rounders, a second-round pick swap, and Zeke Nnaji’s contract in an effort to land him. According to Fischer, the Bucks backed away from those talks and then waived Porter Jr. because they did not want to take on Nnaji’s $7.5 million salary for the 2027-28 season.
The Nuggets have clearly had Porter Jr. on their radar, which makes the lack of a signing a little surprising. Denver may want to see more from its current group first, but the need for another point guard is becoming harder to ignore.
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Christian Braun Is Forcing A Bigger Nuggets Question Early
Christian Braun has come out of the gate looking every bit like a player ready to take on a larger role in Denvers rotation. Through the Nuggets first five games, he has blended scoring, spacing and defensive activity in a way that keeps him on the floor and in the conversation, whether he is finishing possessions or helping set the tone on the other end.
What makes this start more interesting is how closely it tracks his 2024-25 form, which suggests this is not just a hot week but a continuation of real growth. Braun has been active defensively, disruptive on the ball and steady enough offensively to make the Nuggets think about how much more responsibility he can handle as the season settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Hot Shooting Is Hiding An Early Offensive Concern
The Nuggets got a welcome jolt from the perimeter in their recent win over the Suns, with Jamal Murray and Christian Braun both catching fire from deep and helping turn a sluggish offensive start into something far more familiar. It was the kind of night that can make a team look as if it has found its rhythm again, especially when the shots are falling and the ball is moving with purpose.
But the bigger issue is still lurking underneath the hot shooting. Denver has not been finishing nearly enough possessions around the rim, and through five games the paint scoring has lagged well behind where it usually sits for a team built around Nikola Jokic. Even with the outside shot carrying more of the load, the Nuggets know they will need more consistent production in the lane if they want the offense to look like itself over the long haul. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Already Have A Backup Guard Problem They Can't Ignore
The Nuggets early bench look has already put a spotlight on one of the trickier rotation questions around the backcourt. Tyus Jones was brought in to steady second-unit minutes, but his role has been limited so far, and the pairing with DeMar DeRozan has not given Denver the kind of two-way lift it needs when the starters sit. DeRozans defense has been a concern, as expected, and the overall fit has left the Nuggets searching for a better answer.
What makes the issue more pressing is how much the team is leaning on Jamal Murray to carry the load in the meantime. Denver is already exploring other ways to handle backup point guard minutes, which suggests the current setup is not something it can simply ride out. For a team with real postseason ambitions, getting that reserve guard spot right may end up mattering a lot more than it did on paper. [Read more 🡒]