Head of NBA Research, @StatsPerform | NBA Data Analysis | Opinions represent only myself
Denver, CO
Joined December 2019
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My 2026 Nuggets offseason preview is here!
70+ pages of content this year, covering:
-10 Mock Offseasons
-Projecting Peyton Watson’s deal
-Will Denver duck the luxury tax?
And more! Link to read / download: drive.google.com/file/d/1DZX…
Denver is now about $3M over the 2nd apron (incl. incentives) with 14 roster spots filled (excl. Lonnie Walker).
Due to incentives, they’d likely finish the season under the 2nd apron as things stand.
Remaining things to watch:
- Cam Johnson extension?
- Fill 15th roster spot?
The Denver Nuggets are stretching Jonas Valanciunas’ remaining $2 million salary owed for the 2026-27 season, league sources told @hoopshype. As a result, Valanciunas will be on Denver’s books for $667K each of the following three seasons.
Jake Coyne retweeted
. @TheStatSquatch (Jake Coyne) joined PHD today to break down where the Nuggets are at with Peyton Watson and the teams salary cap:
@DMacSportsCO @ballhog44 @Tyler_Polumbus
The Nuggets will have until the trade deadline to get under the second apron, should they want to.
If they do not, their 2034 first round pick - the next future pick they can trade - becomes frozen and unable to be traded for the time being.
One benefit of OKC having a ton of 2nd round picks is that a deal like this becomes easy to move off of, should it not work out. It’s low-risk for them.
It is much higher risk for Denver, considering the lack of draft capital and the 2nd apron.
I do not expect them to match.
JUST IN: Restricted free agent forward Spencer Jones has agreed to a two-year, $12 million offer sheet with the Oklahoma City Thunder, league sources told @hoopshype. The Denver Nuggets will have an opportunity to match the offer sheet.
I noted in my offseason report that the next “smart” way to build a team may be to put yourself in position to take advantage of other teams looking to avoid the second apron. You can get talent at a discount.
I’d expect under this CBA we continue to see deals like this.
Despite the salary being $1.4 million, Diallo will count for $2.45 million on the Nuggets’ books for cap and apron purposes due to something called tax variance.
Something to keep in mind as Denver (possibly) looks to avoid the second apron amid Watson negotiations.
EuroLeague Defender of the Year Alpha Diallo has agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million deal to sign with the Denver Nuggets, agents Jared Mucha and Javon Phillips of Excel Sports Management tell ESPN. The former Providence standout and Euro star makes the NBA jump at 29 years old on a guaranteed deal for the West contenders.
Jake Coyne retweeted
Reminder of what @TheStatSquatch wrote in his offseason preview, in line with this most recent reporting
𝑵𝑬𝑾𝑺: Peyton Watson is said to be seeking a new contract above the $25M in average annual value that Christian Braun signed, per @TheSteinLine & @JakeLFischer
🔗 Full report: tinyurl.com/yck48esc
Hardaway Jr. earned this raise - Denver’s only way to match this would have been to use their own taxpayer MLE. They can’t do that because:
1 - Using it hard caps you at the second apron
2 - If Denver is hard capped at the second apron, it makes re-signing Watson much tougher
Jake Coyne retweeted
Coming up in 5 minutes, on @DNVR_Nuggets'
@SerbianCorner #194 /w @TheStatSquatch
✅Knicks won. What kind of team will get the next one?
✅Are the last season's Nuggets worth paying for?
✅Going through offseason scenarios
Come hang in the live chat!
youtube.com/live/MeDTx1f8dA4
Excited to jump on and chat Nuggets offseason scenarios in a few hours!
This Sunday, on @DNVR_Nuggets' @SerbianCorner #194 /w @TheStatSquatch
✅️ Can we predict what the next champion will play like?
✅️Why did the Nuggets transition from a frontrunner to just a playoff team?
✅️ Searching for a perfect offseason plan
⏰️ 2 PM MT
Jake Coyne retweeted
Every year, Jake publishes a complete guide to the Nuggets offseason/NBA CBA rules & restrictions.
It’s thick. It’s like 74 pages. That’s about 70 too many.
So Jake condensed it all into a form that even @BrettKaneRadio can understand: a picture book.
#MileHighBasketball
My 2026 Nuggets offseason preview is here!
70+ pages of content this year, covering:
-10 Mock Offseasons
-Projecting Peyton Watson’s deal
-Will Denver duck the luxury tax?
And more! Link to read / download: drive.google.com/file/d/1DZX…
Jake Coyne retweeted
Here's Jake's complete Nuggets offseason & NBA CBA guide/manifesto/bible that we just broke down on air.
Dive into it if you dare. Or borrow the picture book version he made for Brett.
@RadioMoser | @VicLombardi | @BrettKaneRadio | @TheStatSquatch | #MileHighBasketball
My 2026 Nuggets offseason preview is here!
70+ pages of content this year, covering:
-10 Mock Offseasons
-Projecting Peyton Watson’s deal
-Will Denver duck the luxury tax?
And more! Link to read / download: drive.google.com/file/d/1DZX…
Jake Coyne retweeted
Always a great read Jake!
My 2026 Nuggets offseason preview is here!
70+ pages of content this year, covering:
-10 Mock Offseasons
-Projecting Peyton Watson’s deal
-Will Denver duck the luxury tax?
And more! Link to read / download: drive.google.com/file/d/1DZX…
Jake Coyne retweeted
Probably my favorite of @TheStatSquatch's annual manifestos. Lots of great details on the Nuggets' situation heading into a potentially era defining offseason.
But this chart was the best (worst). The Nuggets' post championship run has not been great...
My 2026 Nuggets offseason preview is here!
70+ pages of content this year, covering:
-10 Mock Offseasons
-Projecting Peyton Watson’s deal
-Will Denver duck the luxury tax?
And more! Link to read / download: drive.google.com/file/d/1DZX…
Jake Coyne retweeted
Good stuff as always, Jake!
Peyton Watson 📈📈📈
My 2026 Nuggets offseason preview is here!
70+ pages of content this year, covering:
-10 Mock Offseasons
-Projecting Peyton Watson’s deal
-Will Denver duck the luxury tax?
And more! Link to read / download: drive.google.com/file/d/1DZX…
Jake Coyne retweeted
My 2026 Nuggets offseason preview is here!
70+ pages of content this year, covering:
-10 Mock Offseasons
-Projecting Peyton Watson’s deal
-Will Denver duck the luxury tax?
And more! Link to read / download: drive.google.com/file/d/1DZX…
White background / black text for those who prefer it: drive.google.com/file/d/1Hnh…