The Denver Nuggets are left to watch the NBA Finals from home this year after being limited in the first round. That puts increased pressure on them to deliver this offseason, but a recent report suggests they aren't willing to go all out to build a contender.
The Nuggets are an expensive team, no doubt, and they could get even more expensive with them having to sign Peyton Watson this summer. To try and offset cost, they are planning on trading one of Cam Johnson or Christian Braun, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps.
Neither player lived up to expectations this past season, but as CBS Sports' Sam Quinn points out, the Nuggets are essentially looking to pinch pennies.
I'll just keep reminding people that they don't need to create "room" to pay Watson. They have Bird Rights and they aren't currently hard-capped. They're just trying to avoid a huge tax bill, which is an enormously lame thing to do when you have a three-time MVP in his prime. https://t.co/wtBow95yDv
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) May 29, 2026
The Denver Nuggets aren't beating the cheap allegations
Quinn mentions that the Nuggets can afford to keep both players as well as re-sign Watson while staying under the first apron. Instead, they are essentially looking to offset salary rather than build the best-possible team.
If true, it would be yet another baffling example of the Nuggets failing to build around Nikola Jokic. They put themselves in this position.
Remember, they previously re-signed Michael Porter Jr. to a ridiculous contract. Later, they had to trade him to the Brooklyn Nets in a cost-cutting deal, giving up an unprotected first and receiving Johnson in the process.
Of course, Porter Jr. had a career year in Brooklyn, with him suddenly looking like a borderline star. Meanwhile, the Nuggets may have to cut Johnson to save money. Laughable.
The Nuggets keep putting themselves in bad positions
Were they to trade Johnson, they'd still be stuck with Braun, with his contract looking like an absolute wild overpay. Paying a role player $125 million is outlandish.
To be fair, the San Antonio Spurs signed fellow wing Devin Vassell to a similar contract a few years ago. The big difference is that Vassell is a better player on both ends and is coming up big in the playoffs.
Braun largely disappeared this postseason. Assuming the Nuggets do trade Johnson and keep Braun and Watson, at best they are probably only as good as they were this season.
That is a terrible place to be with the West expected to be far better next season. Tanking likely won't be a thing, so there will be more competitive teams, including the Utah Jazz, who could be a top-six team in the West next season.
That means more competition for the Nuggets, and they can't afford to be cheap.
