The Denver Nuggets are keeping the free agency additions going this afternoon, bringing back a veteran free agent.
Shams Charania of ESPN announced on Thursday that the Nuggets were re-signing Tyus Jones, bringing back the veteran point guard on a one-year deal.
Free agent guard Tyus Jones has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Denver Nuggets, sources tell ESPN. Jones played a reserve role after joining Denver on the buyout market last season, and enters his 12th NBA season as his agent Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management… pic.twitter.com/OxPTfX8C7l
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2026
Jones, 30, joined the Nuggets after the trade deadline last year, signing a contract on the buyout market to be eligible for the playoffs. Head coach David Adelman and the Nuggets only had Jones play in three of the playoff games though, and Jones played a total of 92 minutes in the regular season and 30 minutes in the playoffs or Denver.
Of course, Bruce Brown and Jalen Pickett were already slotted in ahead of Jones as backup point guards behind Jamal Murray, and that left little opportunity for Jones to integrate himself into what the Nuggets were doing. With Jones, Brown, and Pickett all unrestricted free agents, it’s interesting that the Nuggets picked Jones as the first backup point guard option to bring back.
Jones joins Marvin Bagley III as the two free agency moves the Nuggets have made so far, and if that sounds a bit underwhelming, it’s because it is. With the Nuggets operating as a team at or above the second apron, they’re signing players willing to agree to minimum contracts first it seems. Jones, like Bagley, could be Denver’s answer as a backup behind Murray as the starter; however, if he’s the only consistent option at point guard behind Murray, that’s not good enough for a title contender.
At this current moment, the Nuggets reportedly have 11 players under contract, factoring in Bagley and Jones. In addition, rookies Trevon Brazile and Bryce Hopkins may or may not be given full-time contracts. Neither has signed an official deal, and the Nuggets are likely figuring out whether they’re best as full-time or two-way contracts depending on who else they plan to add to the roster.
Trades are still expected from Denver in an effort to shed salary, as is the re-signing of Peyton Watson for an undisclosed amount. Once one or the other happens, the Nuggets and their fans will have more clarity on how the roster stacks up against the rest of the Western Conference.
Whatever the case, Jones returns to the Nuggets as a depth signing at point guard. How much he ends up playing is clearly up in the air after an extremely underwhelming 2025-26 season played for three separate teams. If the Nuggets ask Jones to play more, he will have to show more than he did last season in his brief Nuggets stint in order for Denver to find backup point guard stability.