After a heartbreaking second-round exit to the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, the Denver Nuggets faced intense scrutiny over whether their roster could maximize Nikola Jokić’s prime.
Fans and analysts questioned if the supporting cast had the depth and versatility to compete with the West’s elite. In addition, uncertainty surrounded new front office personnel, John Wallace and Ben Tenzer, about their lack of experience and ability to build a championship contender around The Joker.
In response, Denver’s revamped front office made bold offseason moves, acquiring a sharpshooting wing, a rugged big man, and a championship-tested veteran to transform the Nuggets into legitimate title contenders once again.
Cam Johnson: The Two-Way Wing Upgrade
The headliner of Denver’s offseason was the trade that sent Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Johnson.
This move, which freed up $17 million in cap space, addressed both financial flexibility and on-court fit. Johnson, a 6-foot-8 wing with a 39% career three-point average, brings elite shooting and better defensive versatility than Porter Jr., whose injury history and inconsistent playoff performances have consistently raised concerns.
Johnson’s capacity to feast on Jokić’s playmaking makes him a natural fit. Last season, Johnson averaged a career-best 18.8 points with the Nets, creating a lot of his shots in a less-dynamic offense. In Denver, he’ll likely be a catch-and-shoot threat and secondary scoring option while cutting to the basket for Jokić’s passes.
Johnson’s defense, while average, is better than MPJ’s, which is essential for the Nuggets at the point of attack— a weakness that the Thunder exposed.
Jonas Valančiūnas: The Answer to Non-Jokić Minutes
The Nuggets’ long-standing struggle to survive minutes without Jokić found a potential solution in Jonas Valančiūnas, acquired from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Dario Šarić. The veteran center brings rebounding, post-scoring, and a surprising knack for passing to a bench unit that lacked size and playmaking. Valančiūnas averaged 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds two seasons ago as a full-time starter in New Orleans. Last year he averaged 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds as a reliable player off the bench.
His fit is intriguing, but not without risks. Valančiūnas’ traditional, ground-bound style contrasts with Denver’s pace-and-space offense, and his limited mobility could be exposed in playoff matchups against quicker teams like OKC. Reports even surfaced that he considered a buyout to join Panathinaikos in Europe before ultimately committing to the Nuggets.
His ability to anchor the second unit and free up Jokić to play off the ball in select lineups could be a game-changer — potentially filling a gap that’s lingered on the roster for the past five years.
Bruce Brown: The Championship Glue Returns
Perhaps the most exciting addition of the 2025 offseason was the addition of Bruce Brown. Brown signed a one-year veteran minimum contract to return to the team that he helped win a championship with. Brown was a fan favorite with a strong connection to Denver. His ability to run the bench, with great defense, was a significant reason the Nuggets won the 2023 championship.
Brown’s versatility as a wing who can guard multiple positions, handle the ball, and knock down open threes (35.8% career) makes him a perfect fit for the second unit. He’ll likely close games alongside Jokić, Murray, and Johnson, fixing the bench’s defensive lapses from last season. The only concern is whether his recent team-hopping signals a dip in form, but his familiarity with Denver’s system minimizes that risk. He provides a great option to close games in the playoffs.
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Tim Hardaway Jr.: The Bench Sniper
To address their league-worst three-point attempt rate in 2024-25, the Nuggets signed Tim Hardaway Jr., a knockdown shooter with a 36.3% career three-point percentage. Hardaway, who averaged 11.0 points last season, brings instant offense off the bench, capable of heating up quickly in a microwave role. His addition is a direct response to the Nuggets’ spacing issues, particularly in non-Jokić minutes, and complements Brown’s defensive grit in the second unit.
Hardaway’s streaky shooting and limited defensive impact could limit his playoff role against elite Western Conference foes. His contract is only a veteran minimum, so even if he does not become a high-level role player, he is a cheap option for the Nuggets to provide bench help.
Strategic Impact and Outlook
The Nuggets’ offseason has been one of the best in the NBA so far. It prioritizes depth and versatility without disrupting the team fit and chemistry around Jokic. Cam Johnson’s two-way play upgrades the starting lineup, Valančiūnas solves the backup center problem, Brown restores championship chemistry, and Hardaway boosts bench scoring. The projected rotation — Murray, Braun, Johnson, Gordon, Jokić, with Brown, Hardaway, Strawther, Watson, Holmes, and Valančiūnas off the bench — has the potential to bring Denver its second championship.
Under new coach David Adelman, the Denver Nuggets are betting on a deeper, more balanced roster to challenge OKC in the West. If Johnson and Brown stay healthy and Valančiūnas buys in, Denver should return to the Conference Finals. For now, Nuggets Nation can celebrate an offseason that’s reinvigorated their title hopes, without sacrificing a single Jokić possession.
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