To cap off what has been an incredible Free Agency for the Denver Nuggets, they land one more haymaker by adding a capable 3&D wing.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Nuggets are signing veteran shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. to a one-year deal.
Free agent sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr. has agreed to a one-year deal with the Denver Nuggets, sources tell ESPN. Hardaway had a strong season for the Pistons’ resurgent 2024-25 campaign and now Denver officials finalize a deal with Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports. pic.twitter.com/XUaslGumBf
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025
The Denver Nuggets are getting Tim Hardaway Jr. for the Vet Minimum, according to league sources. Shocking they can get a guy of that caliber on that contract, but the market is drying up, so the Nuggets got a bit fortunate there
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) July 1, 2025
The veteran started all 77 games for the Pistons, averaging 11.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game in a spacing role around their young core. He averaged 28.0 minutes per game, and while it wouldn’t be expected for him to play such a role for the Nuggets, the fact that he can play it is a true luxury for Denver.
How large of a role Hardaway plays in Denver remains a question mark. The Nuggets now have several wings of all shapes and skill sets. Hardaway represents perhaps the best blend of 3&D, while others have different specialities. It will be up to new head coach David Adelman to figure out how to utilize such a mix.
After trading Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson and shedding a high salary, the Nuggets have absolutely maximized that flexibility to the highest degree. Johnson will start at small forward, while the Nuggets have subsequently added the three of Hardaway Jr., Jonas Valanciunas, and Bruce Brown to what has become a stacked rotation.
Executives Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace noted that Denver would do most of their work in free agency and that Denver’s goal was to add more depth to the roster…well, they’ve accomplished that in spades while fixing some of Denver’s most glaring weaknesses in outside shooting and backup center play.
The Nuggets depth chart is quite something to behold at this point. Beyond the starters of Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets now have the following reserves on the full-time roster:
- Jalen Pickett
- Bruce Brown
- Tim Hardaway Jr.
- Julian Strawther
- Peyton Watson
- Hunter Tyson
- Zeke Nnaji
- DaRon Holmes II
- Jonas Valanciunas
Talk about remaking a second unit. What an incredible job the Nuggets have done here. If there was ever a question as to whether Denver would capitalize on the financial flexibility they generated in the Michael Porter Jr. deal, that question has been answered firmly. The Nuggets are going for it, paying the luxury tax again, and have built a roster capable of matching up with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
What a difference a couple of days can make.