The Denver Nuggets are poised to be one of the league’s busiest teams this offseason. A first-round exit in the 2026 playoffs and a climbing luxury-tax bill have prompted the front office to release a tiered list of 50 players it could target. Executives Jon Wallace and Ben Tenzer are weighing every option except moving Nikola Jokic, a stance reiterated by owner Josh Kroenke who said “everything is on the table.”
The trade market currently includes Cam Johnson and Christian Braun, with Braun’s value already under question. Jamal Murray’s $50.1 million contract is a major salary piece that the club must address, and Michael Porter Jr.’s max extension, signed before the current collective bargaining agreement, has become a liability. Kroenke noted that building around three max contracts is no longer viable under today’s CBA.
The list highlights the ten most expensive candidates: Anthony Davis (Washington Wizards, $58.5 million), Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics, $57.1 million), Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers, $50.3 million) and De’Aaron Fox (San Antonio Spurs, $49.5 million). Each salary eclipses Murray’s, underscoring the steep cost of any blockbuster move and explaining why these names are considered the least likely.
If the Nuggets pursue a player like Davis, they would gain a versatile, two-way big who can protect the rim and stretch the floor, but the price and injury risk make the deal a gamble. Brown offers elite perimeter defense and scoring versatility, yet integrating a high-usage wing would require careful roster adjustments. Leonard, fresh off his best offensive season at 34, provides a short-term upside despite the lingering cap-circumvention controversy.
More realistic targets are likely mid-level veterans on expiring deals who can be swapped for Murray’s salary without overloading the cap. Wallace and Tenzer must balance shaving salary, adding rotational talent, and possibly recouping draft capital sacrificed in previous moves.
The next decisive window opens after the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday. Once Denver knows its draft positioning, the trade market will open before the moratorium lifts, giving the franchise a narrow period to finalize any major deals. The choices made now will determine whether the Nuggets double-down on a championship window or reset for a longer-term rebuild.
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