The Denver Nuggets have struggled to recapture the form that led to their 2022-23 championship. After owner-president Josh Kroenke said in May that “everything’s going to be on the table outside of trading Nikola Jokić,” the front office began exploring all possible roster moves. Trade options for point guard Jamal Murray and forward Aaron Gordon are now on the table as the club looks to reshape its supporting cast while keeping Jokić as the centerpiece.

Murray entered the 2025-26 season at 29 with career-best numbers, 25.4 points, 7.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game, and earned his first All-Star selection. In the opening-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, his production slipped to 23.7 points on 35.7 percent shooting and 26.2 percent from three, a stark contrast to his regular-season efficiency. The drop highlights a potential mismatch between his scoring ability and the team’s evolving defensive schemes.

Aaron Gordon’s season was hampered by injuries, limiting him to 36 games. He missed half of the first-round series against Minnesota, reducing his impact on the court. When healthy, Gordon provided solid contributions, but the injury-filled campaign raises questions about his reliability as a long-term piece alongside Jokić and Murray.

While the Nuggets are still weighing Murray and Gordon, insiders suggest the organization prefers to flip either forward Christian Braun or wing Cam Johnson first. Those moves could bring depth pieces or draft capital, giving Denver flexibility to rebuild the perimeter rotation without sacrificing Jokić’s contract. The focus remains on acquiring assets that align with a roster that can compete in a Western Conference that continues to tighten each offseason.

With free agency looming, Denver faces a decisive crossroads. If the front office decides to retain Murray, extending his deal and adding bench depth will become priorities. Conversely, moving Murray, or even Gordon, could generate the young talent and future picks needed to keep the franchise competitive around Jokić’s prime. The next few weeks will determine whether the Nuggets double down on their current core or chart a new path before the free-agency market reshapes the West.