Examining Nuggets' Salary Cap, Decisions for 2025 NBA Free Agency After Thunder Loss
After a seven-game series loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs, the Denver Nuggets' season is over.
Can we finally take a breath now?
Late in the regular season—with three games remaining, to be specific—the franchise fired longtime coach Michael Malone and announced it would not renew the contract of general manager Calvin Booth.
The stunning move preceded a competitive exit from the postseason; the Nuggets outlasted the Los Angeles Clippers in a seven-game opening-round series but fell short of the Thunder in seven games.
And if changes like that happened on the doorstep of the playoffs, it's only reasonable to assume there are more to come in the offseason.
Salary Cap
1 of 3
Do you want the good news or the bad news?
Superstar center Nikola Jokic is signed at least through the 2026-27 campaign, and his presence alone makes the Nuggets a respected team.
The challenge, for better or worse, is that Denver has invested heavily in Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon. Murray's four-year, $209 million extensions kicks in next season.
As a result, it's no surprise the Nuggets already have north of $190 million on the books, per HoopsHype. This roster is only getting more expensive.
The main question is whether Denver can stay below the projected $207.8 million second apron and avoid the most serious cap restrictions.
Top Contract Decisions
2 of 3
Because of the Nuggets' big-money salaries, they desperately need budget-friendly options to round out their rotation.
Nothing is simple for this Denver team, though.
After holding a key role for much of the season, Russell Westbrook fell out of favor down the stretch. It's reasonable to believe he won't exercise a $3.5 million option and will instead look elsewhere.
Dario Saric played in just 16 games during the regular season. He could decline a $5.4 million option and hit free agency (or return to Europe), but the Denver Post reported in early April that Saric is planning on staying.
Any other decisions all involve players under contract. Offseason trade rumors will likely swirl around Porter, who's due $38.3 million next year.
Free Agents to Pursue
3 of 3
In addition to the trio on two-way contracts—Trey Alexander, PJ Hall and Spencer Jones—Denver has a pair of pending free agents.
DeAndre Jordan appeared in 56 games, yet the veteran shouldn't be re-signed unless he's willing to hold an end-of-the-bench role on a minimum deal. Same for Vlatko Cancar, an interesting-in-theory, oft-injured backup.
As constructed, the Nuggets have minimal flexibility.
They simply must add a contributor with the $5.6 million mid-level exception. Amir Coffey, Luke Kornet and Gary Payton II all make sense—on paper—as MLE targets but each might get a higher offer elsewhere.
Denver's risky, familiar route of chasing a couple of veterans on minimum contracts will be present again this offseason.
Is there any shot the Nuggets could convince Bruce Brown, a key member of the 2023 championship team, to return for cheap? Start the dream now.
.jpg?w=600 "Wild Lottery Simulation 🫨")
