05-29-2026, 01:28 PM
(05-29-2026, 07:54 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: Yeah, they have a very difficult offseason. I saw a report of the draft assets for every team. The Nuggets are last in a tier of their own. They have a good team, but one with very little young players. Injuries have also been an issue. The moves they made last year were applauded by most (including me) but it didn't work and probably hurt their flexibility. They really need that pick 26 and hit on it, but it is probably one of their few assets they have.
With Jokic they are always a contender, but they are at a very important step. Not sure how they can really keep up with OKC and SA.
Yes, Denver is a very interesting case. In the big picture I think, their only chance to contend is to go above the second apron (or really strike gold in 2026 draft). They are just a little below the second apron without Watson. THJ and Bruce Brown are also free agents and I am not sure if they would accept a vet min again. THJ had a very decent season. Spencer Jones also had a very decent season and some team might offer him more than vet min.
Denver is paying a price of a champion. They had to let some guys walk and overpay others. First they had to let Brown walk as he got roughly 25 mil offer from Indy, which was a huge overpay. Similar story next season with KCP and Orlando offer. They made a cost cutting move by trading MPJ for Cam.
Assuming there actually will be a team offering a salary in 25 mil per range for Watson, they would need to shed a lot of salary to stay below the second apron and sign him. Valanciunas is not guaranteed, so they could save some 8 mil there. Nnaji is dead weight and they would certainly need to pay to get rid of him. Even if they succeed, it would still not be enough. Cam is ok, but had sort of a meh season. Not really awesome defender. He is expiring though. Braun had a bad season and he looks way overpaid for what he delivered. Is that the real him or is there hope for a version from previous season to return? Gordon had two injury riddled season, but is awesome when healthy.
Would there be a team (BKN, Chicago and Lakers have cap space) willing to take either Cam or Braun into cap space without expecting an asset from Denver? Chicago will be rebuilding, so I assume they would like to sell their cap space. BKN doesn't control their picks, but does Cam really move a needle for them, since they just traded him away? I am not sure Lakers would be interested in either one. If the teams would expect draft compensation for either, than I think Denver would be better off letting Watson walk. Unless they do something bigger with either Gordon or Murray.