The Denver Nuggets‘ low season was already off to a sluggish begin when the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder dealt them a crushing blow. The Thunder gave ahead Spencer Jones a qualifying supply that pressured the Nuggets to match and pushed them into the second apron.
That was a devious transfer that pressured Denver’s hand. It is not simply that they have been pressured to signal Jones for greater than anticipated; it is that they nonetheless should re-sign Peyton Watson.
Even when Watson takes the qualifying supply, based on ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Nuggets would have a $112 million tax invoice along with a $229 million payroll.
On the very minimal, their luxurious tax penalty will improve to $112M with the Peyton Watson Qualifying Provide. https://t.co/TLTTXxfEZ7
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 27, 2026
The Denver Nuggets are caught between a rock and a tough place
Denver is very unlikely to pay that tax invoice, and the meddling Thunder all however ensures the Nuggets should make no less than one commerce. Cam Johnson or Christian Braun are the most probably candidates to be shipped out.
Even when they have been to commerce Johnson to, say, the Boston Celtics, who’ve a commerce exception giant sufficient to amass him with out sending gamers again, the Nuggets would nonetheless be too costly.
In spite of everything, the Nuggets reportedly provided Watson a 5-year, $70 million deal, which is $14 million per season. In the meantime, the qualifying supply that Marks was utilizing to calculate the Nuggets‘ tax invoice was for $6.5 million.
Merely put, Denver would in all probability have to maneuver on from Johnson and Zeke Nnaji or Braun whereas taking again little or no in return.
The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder are sabotaging the Nuggets
The Thunder going out of their approach to give Jones a qualifying supply was a strategic transfer on their half. The Nuggets, regardless of having fallen behind within the West, are one of many few groups able to beating OKC.
Forcing them to make powerful roster choices is a intelligent approach to weaken their rivals. It additionally ensures they will not be a risk to Oklahoma Metropolis subsequent season.
Even when they have been to re-sign Watson, odds are, they must quit Johnson, who’s a starter, for nothing now. In doing so, at greatest, the Nuggets could have had a middling offseason with out truly bettering.
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