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How the Denver Nuggets’ roster situation stands heading into important offeseaon

By Vinny Benedetto May 21, 2025 | updated 2 months ago

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The Nuggets don’t have a permanent coach or general manager, but they do have a nearly complete roster heading into what could be an offseason full of change.

Here’s how the roster looks heading into the summer:

Under contract

Nikola Jokic

The three-time Most Valuable Player is still under contract for two more seasons before a player option kicks in for the 2027-28 season. Jokic is also eligible for a contract extension this summer. He’s set to make $55.2 million next season.

Jamal Murray

There’s bad news for those hoping the Nuggets move on from Murray this offseason. Murray made just over $36 million last season. His salary jumps to roughly $46.4 million next season. Murray last year signed an extension under then-general manager Calvin Booth that runs through the 2028-29 season.

Michael Porter Jr.

There’s still two years left on the extension Porter signed prior to the 2021-22 season. He’s set to make $38.3 million next season. It’s not un-tradable, as it used to be, but Porter’s health and limited production this postseason didn’t help his value. Porter is also eligible for an extension this summer, but that doesn’t feel likely.

Aaron Gordon

As if Gordon didn’t do enough to ingratiate himself with Nuggets fans this season, the extension Gordon signed in October included him picking up his team-friendly player option for next season. Gordon is set to make $22.8 million next season before the extension kicks in and his salary jumps to nearly $32 million the following season.

What Aaron Gordon's most proud of after painful season with Denver Nuggets | NBA Insider

Zeke Nnaji

Well, at least Nnaji’s contract is descending. He made $8.9 million last season. That figure drops to $8.2 million next season. The last two years on the contract, which includes a player option for the 2027-28 season, come with a $7.5 million cap hit. It’s been a challenge for the Nuggets to move Nnaji in recent years, but his salary number is still in the sweet spot for a potential trade — even if the Nuggets must attach a pick or a young player to the deal.

Christian Braun

The 24-year-old proved he was a more-than-capable starter this season, but the Nuggets only have one year left of Braun’s rookie contract. Braun is due $4.9 million next season. ESPN cap expert Bobby Marks recently said the shooting guard could garner roughly $30 million per year on his next contract. If the Nuggets aren’t racing to offer the big extension, Braun will be a restricted free agent ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Peyton Watson

The 22-year-old played his most meaningful minutes in both the regular season and playoffs in his third season as a professional. Like Braun, Watson is eligible for an extension this summer. After making $2.4 million last season, he’s getting a raise to $4.4 million next season. He will also be a restricted free agent ahead of the 2026-27 season.

DaRon Holmes II

Denver’s salary situation wasn’t impacted despite Holmes tearing his Achilles in the first game of Summer League and missing the entirety of what should’ve been his rookie season. The Nuggets paid the 22-year-old $3.1 million last season. That number jumps to $3.2 million next season, the last before Denver’s team options start.

Julian Strawther

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The second-year shooting guard showed up in a big way during Denver’s Game 6 win over the Thunder. Unfortunately for the Nuggets, a first-apron team, they can’t send out more salary in a trade than they receive. Strawther will make $2.7 million next season. Then he becomes extension eligible and a restricted free agent next season.

Jalen Pickett

A year ago, it looked like the 25-year-old wouldn’t last long in the NBA. He improved his value in his second season and played more meaningful minutes, but the sample size remains small. He’s making $2.2 million next season and has a team option for the following season with $2.4 million the following year.

Hunter Tyson

The forward out of Clemson is in the same spot as Pickett. Booth signed the second-round picks to matching, multi-year, guaranteed contracts. Tyson plays with a high level of energy and isn’t afraid to shoot, but the production hasn’t been enough to warrant any considerable trade value.

Denver enters offseason of change; David Adelman's endorsements; Michael Porter Jr.'s pain | Nuggets notebook

Options

Dario Saric

The Croatian big man failed to live up to the taxpayer, mid-level exception Denver offered him last season. He played in just 16 games in the regular season and didn’t play in the postseason. He has a player option for $5.4 million next season. It’s unlikely any other team is willing to offer Saric as much.

Russell Westbrook

The veteran guard outperformed his $3.3 million contract this season. It’s to be determined whether Westbrook will return to the Nuggets for a second season on a player option worth nearly $3.5 million next season. His decision is a big part of Denver’s offseason. Should Westbrook and Saric both opt in, 13 of Denver’s 15 roster spots will be filled.

Denver Nuggets run out of gas early in Game 7, see season end in Oklahoma City

Free agents

DeAndre Jordan

At 36, Jordan was still Denver’s best bet off the bench against opposing teams with a more traditional backup center. He made $2.1 million in 2024-25. Jordan likely won’t be back in Denver on anything more than a veteran minimum contract, but he’s an unrestricted free agent.

Vlatko Cancar

Like Jordan, Cancar made $2.1 million last season, is a valuable part of Denver’s locker-room culture and enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent. The Slovenian rarely impacted the meaningful minutes of the Nuggets’ season. He also won’t be offered more than a minimum contact this season.

Trey Alexander/PJ Hall/Spencer Jones

Denver’s three two-way players are all restricted free agents next season with a salary hit of $2 million. The Nuggets haven’t promoted many two-way players to standard contracts in recent years. Denver’s front office has until June 29 to extend a qualifying offer to the trio.

Mark Kiszla: End of an era? Nuggets need to trade Jamal Murray or Michael Porter Jr. after being bounced from playoffs

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Vinny Benedetto

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