In their first official move of NBA Free Agency, the Denver Nuggets made an intriguing choice on an incumbent point guard.

Bennett Durando of the Denver Post first reported that Nuggets point guard Jalen Pickett will have his $2.4 million player option declined, making him an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Pickett played for three seasons for the Denver Nuggets, appearing in 126 regular season and 13 playoff games during that span. Most of Pickett’s minutes involved garbage time, but there were stretches throughout the three years, particularly in 2024-25 and 2025-26, in which Pickett played a rotation role for the Nuggets.

The highlight of Pickett’s season last year was a January 5th overtime performance against the Philadelphia 76ers in which he scored 29 points and added 7 assists while defeating what was effectively the fully healthy 76ers. Pickett had occasional flashes of scoring and playmaking consistency while playing the right way for Denver at all times.

And yet, the Nuggets are deciding to go a different direction with their point guard spot. Denver brought in Tyus Jones via the buyout market last February as a veteran backup point guard option. Bruce Brown also played a significant portion of his minutes at backup point guard throughout the year, made possible by the playmaking exploits of Nikola Jokic and some good lineups featuring Cam Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas.

Both Bruce Brown and Tyus Jones are unrestricted free agents as well, meaning the Nuggets have significant questions at backup point guard behind Jamal Murray. In addition, the Nuggets are expected to reduce salary in some manner this offseason, meaning Jamal Murray’s $50 million cap hit in 2026-27 is up for trade consideration.

All of this to say, Denver’s point guard position could look drastically different in a couple weeks. It also could look almost identical to last year if the Nuggets decide to simply run back a similar group. That appears unlikely, given the comments made by Jon Wallace this offseason about attempting to trade up for a point guard in the first round of the NBA Draft last week; however, the option remains for Denver to keep things simple.

Whatever the case, it’s unlikely the Nuggets would decline Pickett’s team option and bring him back in unrestricted free agency. Pickett’s team option was estimated to be about $50,000 lower than the veteran minimum salary, meaning that if Denver had designs on him returning and saving money, exercising his team option would’ve been the smarter course.

Right now, it appears Denver’s going a different direction.

Pickett was unfairly caught in the middle of a power struggle between former head coach Michael Malone and former general manager Calvin Booth. He wasn’t the only player, but that dispute certainly impacted Pickett’s time with the Nuggets. Now, all parties are gone.

Here’s hoping Pickett finds a new home, whether it be in the NBA or for a high profile European club. He would absolutely shine in the European game given his ability to see the floor and take care of the ball.

For now though, expect the Nuggets to make several more moves as free agency tips off in just about 24 hours on Tuesday, June 30th at 4pm MT.