Now that the Denver Nuggets have hired Executive Vice President Jon Wallace to handle Player Personnel, it’s officially time to think about the free agents the Nuggets can target this offseason.

With three open roster spots currently available and roughly $10.6 million in space below the second tax apron, the Nuggets have very few ways to improve their team in free agency this offseason. They can sign a single player to the Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception (worth ~$5.7 million in 2025-26) before having to sign minimum contracts exclusively. If the Nuggets sign a player using the TP-MLE, they are hard-capped at the estimated $207.8 million second apron and cannot exceed that number for any reason. The Nuggets are currently at $197.2 million for next season, including likely incentives in Aaron Gordon’s contract that must be factored in.

So, there’s not a lot Denver can do. Names like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Brook Lopez are pipe dreams for the Nuggets. They will have to go bargain bin hunting, and hopefully, the list I’ve compiled reflects that. The goal for the Nuggets should be to add at least one rotation player, hopefully two, to their rotation via free agency this offseason. That means working the phones, establishing relationships, promising play time opportunities, and more.

Can Jon Wallace, Ben Tenzer, and the Nuggets add multiple of these players? Let’s discuss:

Honorable Mentions:

  • Keon Eliis – A team option technically makes it possible that he could be had, but it’s extremely unlikely Sacramento lets him go under almost any circumstance
  • Jaylin Williams – Ditto for Williams and the Oklahoma City Thunder. While OKC does have a serious roster crunch, they will probably do what they can to bring back everyone on their roster that plays a role
  • Nicolas Batum – The veteran forward has a player option and will likely remain with the Los Angeles Clippers. He would be an elite addition to the roster if available though
  • Davion Mitchell – The young defensive minded guard had a solid bounce back with the Miami Heat, but he’s a restricted free agent. Any contract Denver throws his way would likely be matched by the Heat
  • Quentin Grimes – Ditto for Grimes and the Philadelphia 76ers. He would fit in nicely in Denver but will likely exceed their price tag

The Home Runs for the TP-MLE

Caris LeVert – Wing, Atlanta Hawks

Every year, there’s a player that’s better than expected that slips through the cracks in free agency. This year, that player could be Caris LeVert. The wing free agency market is pretty bad, so someone is likely to pay him. They might even give him the full MLE. If he doesn’t like his options though, he’s a fantastic candidate to do what Bruce Brown did the year the Nuggets won the championship, sign a contract with a contender, and get back out on the market a year later having helped that team in the playoffs.

Because LeVert would really help Denver. He’s a lot like Will Barton, a scoring wing that can play on and off the ball, really helping the second unit keep above water. He would immediately be Denver’s sixth man and finish games ahead of Michael Porter Jr. or Christian Braun depending on the matchup. In the playoffs, he can be trusted to score enough to stay on the floor when it matters. It’s unlikely Denver can get him, but he’s my top free agent target.

Al Horford – Big, Boston Celtics

The Nuggets need another adult in their frontcourt, and Horford would most certainly qualify. He’s a versatile frontcourt option that’s getting up in years and would need to be protected a bit during the regular season. Still, the Nuggets have struggled so much because their bench can’t utilize the same style that Jokic plays. With Horford, he’s an awesome pick and pop option, smart passer, low mistake player, and high IQ defender.

If the Nuggets really want to solve their backup center issue, they should go get Al Horford, play him next to DaRon Holmes and Peyton Watson off the bench, and watch Denver’s defense get that much better in both the regular season and playoffs.

Bruce Brown – Wing, New Orleans Pelicans

If at first you don’t succeed…

The Bruce Brown addition needs no explanation. The Nuggets are intimately familiar with how he fits on their roster, and Brown would give the Nuggets some much needed positional versatility. He can play the backup point guard, shooting guard, or small forward spot, set screens for Nikola Jokic, run pick and roll, and guard multiple positions. His efficiency isn’t that high, but he still takes some pressure off of Denver’s scorers when he goes off the dribble, and his turnover rate is much lower than Westbrook’s.

If the Nuggets brought back Bruce Brown, fans would be over the moon. While it may not work out as well as it did the first time, it’s still a very solid option for Denver’s bench unit.

Strong options for the TP-MLE

Taurean Prince – Forward, Milwaukee Bucks

Prince started for the Bucks last year and shot the ball exceptionally well. He operates within the defensive scheme but doesn’t uplift others on that end. He’s a true 3&D forward, and while he doesn’t do much else, it’s an important role for any contender to have. Prince made 147 threes last year for Milwaukee which would have ranked third on the Nuggets behind only Michael Porter Jr. (193) and Jamal Murray (156).

Chris Boucher – Big, Toronto Raptors

Boucher was a player the Nuggets had reported interest in around the trade deadline this past year. Could they continue looking into him as a frontcourt option off the bench? He’s another 6’9 power forward like DaRon Holmes and Zeke Nnaji, so the fit may not be perfect; however, he’s a solid floor spacer, solid rebounder, good shot blocker, and low turnover player. Denver could do way worse than Boucher as long as they realign other parts of their roster/rotation.

Dalano Banton – Guard, Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers just traded Anfernee Simons for Jrue Holiday, who plays a super powered role of what Delano Banton did for them last year. Listed at 6’9″, Banton is a tall playmaker with the ball in his hands and makes solid defensive plays. He wasn’t exceptionally efficient with Portland, but playing off of Nikola Jokic would open things up for him. He would be a big target as a cutter, a switchable defender, and also, Canadian like Jamal Murray.

Luke Kornet – Big, Boston Celtics

If the Nuggets can’t get Al Horford, they could also look to make a run at Luke Kornet, whose versatility isn’t as strong but regular season impact as a rim runner and rim protector might be just as important. Kornet has carved out a role as a rotation big, and while he wouldn’t play next to Nikola Jokic very often, he would give the second unit an identity to build their mechanisms around. He can make passes out of the pick and roll, play within a team concept, and add value in how he operates around the paint.

Gary Trent Jr. – Guard, Milwaukee Bucks

Trent had a solid season coming off the bench for Milwaukee, spacing the floor from three, guarding on the perimeter, and occasionally scoring with the ball in his hands. He made 180 three-pointers on 41.6% from deep, taking advantage of the shots generated by Giannis Antetokounmpo. Like Taurean Prince, Trent would be a great bench option as a 3&D player.

The Westbrook tier

Russell Westbrook – Guard, Denver Nuggets

The placement of Westbrook on this list highlights the balance between how good he was for Denver and the mechanisms with which they can retain him. Denver probably shouldn’t offer Westbrook the TP-MLE because it’s their only method of adding a free agent for more than the minimum outside of the organization. Denver can re-sign him in different ways on either a regular minimum contract or as a 20% raise off of last year’s salary that would yield a higher cap hold. Either would be fine, but with the Nuggets in a financial crunch it’s important use their resources better than before.

Bringing back Westbrook is arguably a better option than the point guard options below him, and the Nuggets would likely prefer the continuity anyway.

TP-MLE Point Guard Replacements

D’Angelo Russell – Guard, Brooklyn Nets

For a variety of reasons, this would seem to be an unlikely move; however, Russell is a talented guard and could be a candidate to take a one-year contract for a playoff team to get himself back into the mix. He’s one year removed from averaging 18 points and six assists per game while shooting over 40% from three. If the Nuggets really wanted to add scoring, they would approach D’Angelo Russell about being their sixth man. He’s not going to do a lot else, but he can run a pick and roll and space the floor.

Malcolm Brogdon – Guard, Washington Wizards

A more traditional veteran backup point guard, Brogdon has had injury issues but remains a trustable option for most teams. He can certainly handle playmaking duties on the second unit, though his health and defense at this stage remain questionable.

Tyus Jones – Guard, Phoenix Suns

Taking a minimum contract to be the starting point guard for the Suns didn’t work out exceptionally well for Jones, but that shouldn’t deter the Nuggets from exploring the possibility of him being their backup point guard. He and Monte Morris were the gold standard for a long time, and his low turnover, high level decision making stand out as positives for Denver’s second unit.

Tre Jones – Guard, San Antonio Spurs

Cut from the same cloth as his older brother, Tre Jones is a slightly better defender and worse offensive player than his brother. He still has some growing to do as an offensive player, but the Nuggets could do WAY worse than adding Jones to stabilize things if Westbrook departs.

Tre Mann – Guard, Charlotte Hornets (Restricted)

Mann is coming off of an injury shortened season. He played 13 games and then had back surgery. His agent recently told Shams Charania that he’s back to full health though, and not a moment too soon with free agency coming up! He will likely earn more than Denver can pay him, but if he slips through the cracks, he’s a traditional sixth man scoring guard that could give Denver some extra lift offensively.

More Solid TP-MLE candidates to monitor

Jake LaRavia – Forward, Sacramento Kings

Jake LaRavia needed an extra year or two to get his feet under him in the NBA, but I was impressed with how he fit in with the Grizzlies and Kings this year. He shot over 42% from three, got more involved defensively, and just looked the part of an NBA player. He’s still just 23 years old, and he will be an unrestricted free agent because he had a team option declined prematurely. Now, he could be a steal on the open market.

Sam Merrill – Wing, Cleveland Cavaliers

Sam Merrill is a traditional shooting guard hunting offense from behind the arc, coming off screens, running in transition, and with dribble hand offs. He attempted 368 three-pointers and 56 two-pointers last year, helping the Cavaliers be the best offense in the NBA because of how dangerous they were behind the arc. He will need someone to create shots for him, but I’d go out on a limb and say Nikola Jokic would be more than happy to set the table for Merrill.

Better for the Minimum than the TP-MLE

Amir Coffey – Wing, Los Angeles Clippers

I’ve long been fond of the idea of Amir Coffey. He shot nearly 41% from three last year of the Clippers and played over 1,700 regular season minutes, but he never got a chance in the playoffs for some reason (zero total minutes). He’s a solid defender, solid shooter, and he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. He just turned 28 in June. If Denver could get him for the minimum, that would be great. More than likely though, he’d be a TP-MLE candidate, and with Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson already on the roster, it doesn’t make as much sense.

De’Anthony Melton – Guard, Brooklyn Nets

Melton signed a one-year deal with the Golden State Warriors last year but tore his ACL very early in the season. I’ve long been a fan of his game, his aggressiveness as a scorer, and his ability to generate steals with elite hands (career 3.0% steal rate). The Oklahoma City Thunder just won a championship by generating turnovers, and there’s no reason why Melton couldn’t fit into that mold as a bench 3&D guard.

Paul Reed – Big, Detroit Pistons

Paul Reed signed last season to be the third center with the Detroit Pistons behind Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. He ultimately played 500 total minutes in the regular season and playoffs combined and just didn’t have the role that he might have hoped. In Denver, he would be a solid backup center in the minutes without Nikola Jokic. They might have to pay a premium for his services, but the Nuggets desperately need a center that can operate in those minutes. Perhaps Reed can do it.

Aaron Holiday – Guard, Houston Rockets (Team Option)

Aaron Holiday is a more defensive minded point guard option who plays off-ball a fair amount; however, he’s a career 38% three-point shooter and can be a net positive on the floor without needing the ball. He’s likely to return to Houston on that team option, but on the off chance he isn’t retained, the Nuggets should make a call. He would help their second unit.

Minimum Contract Options

Marvin Bagley III – Big, Memphis Grizzlies

While Marvin Bagley isn’t the big man the Sacramento Kings thought he would be at second overall in the Luka Doncic draft, he has turned into a solid backup center option. His scoring skills remain solid, and his athleticism helps him create shots either in the pick and roll or in isolation situations. He’s also a much more consistent defender than when he entered the league. He’s a good minimum contract flyer to take at just 26 years old.

Isaiah Jackson – Big, Indiana Pacers (Restricted)

Isaiah Jackson tore his achilles five games into the regular season for the Indiana Pacers. It was extremely unfortunate because he was showing growth in their backup center role. For his career, Jackson maintains a 62.6 True Shooting % and 7.4% block rate. He doesn’t really take threes, but he was a high flying rim runner before the injury. I would assume the Pacers try to bring him back, but if they pull the qualifying offer on his restricted status, the Nuggets can offer him a minimum contract and the opportunity to win their backup center spot next year.

Ziaire Williams – Wing, Brooklyn Nets

Another young player, Ziaire Williams would be what’s called a “second draft” player, taking someone that struggled on their rookie contract and helping them find a role on the next contract. Williams averaged 10 points per game in Brooklyn last year, and at 6’9″, there’s clearly still some untapped potential there on both ends of the floor at just 23 years old. Williams probably doesn’t fit with both Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson around, but if the Nuggets ever moved one of those guys in a trade, Williams is a solid flyer option.

Trendon Watford – Forward, Brooklyn Nets

Trendon Watford is another younger player (24 years old) that might slip through the cracks in Brooklyn. At 6’9″ with more of a power forward frame, Watford is interesting as a playmaker for others at his size, averaging 2.6 assists per game last year and maintaining a 16.6% assist rate for his first four seasons. He can do other things, but he ranked 74th in the NBA in assist rate which was akin to Jaylen Brown and Fred VanVleet. On a Nuggets team that needs to play smart, that matters to me.

Larry Nance Jr. – Big, Atlanta Hawks

The former Wyoming Cowboy probably isn’t a major candidate to play major minutes if he signs here, but he would be a good veteran to help the team. Nance has now been in the NBA for 10 years, and while he definitely still has something left in the tank, it would be better to have him around pushing the young guys to be better and stepping up if they weren’t ready. He’s always been a valuable small ball option, and he’s versatile enough to play next to another big man as well.