The Denver Nuggets faced disappointment in the 2025 playoffs, losing to the Timberwolves despite a revamped roster. With a new head coach and fresh talent, questions arise about the future of Nikola Jokic's supporting cast.
Key points
Denver Nuggets lost in the first round of the 2025 playoffs
Team underwent significant changes with a new head coach and roster
Nikola Jokic remains the core player surrounded by new talent
Nuggets traded Michael Porter Jr. for Cameron Johnson
Denver NuggetsMinnesota TimberwolvesNikola JokicMichael Porter Jr.
The Denver Nuggets reset the organization after their playoff exit in 2025, entering this season with a new full-time head coach, a new head of basketball operations and a remade bench. The result was more of the same, however.
Denver fell well short of a championship, losing to an injury-depleted Timberwolves squad in six games in the opening round of the playoffs despite the belief that this roster was constructed to make a deeper run than in the last two seasons.
What changes did the Denver Nuggets make to their roster for the 2025 season?
The Nuggets added depth by bringing in players like Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valanciunas, while trading Michael Porter Jr. for Cameron Johnson.
How did the Nuggets perform in the 2025 playoffs?
The Nuggets were eliminated in the first round by the Timberwolves, losing the series in six games despite expectations for a deeper playoff run.
Who is Nikola Jokic and what role does he play on the Nuggets?
Nikola Jokic is the star player for the Denver Nuggets, serving as their primary offensive and defensive anchor.
What are the implications of the Nuggets' playoff exit for their future?
The Nuggets' early exit raises questions about their roster construction and the effectiveness of their new coaching staff moving forward.
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The Nuggets arguably had a brighter future last offseason than they do now. The problems were clear a year ago: there simply wasn't enough depth, and Michael Malone's approach had grown stale before his firing. The path forward is more complicated now because those depth issues were addressed, David Adelman got his first full season as head coach and yet the result was even more playoff disappointment.
Injuries were a factor in the regular season. Cameron Johnson, Peyton Watson, Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon all missed at least 28 games; Gordon continued to play through pain in the playoffs, and Watson never returned. The Nuggets' front office could simply say that it needs to see this core run it back with better injury luck.
On the other hand, questions about the Nuggets' defense are lingering. After finishing bottom-10 in the NBA in defensive rating for the second consecutive season, what can be done to fix the issue? Jokic's defense is a known concern, but he isn't going anywhere. What little flexibility the Nuggets have could be used to bring in defensive reinforcements.
Only two members of Denver's rotation are pending unrestricted free agents: veterans Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown. Both offer little cap relief with their expiring deals, as they each make less than $4 million. Hardaway was a Sixth Man of the Year finalist while Brown played in all 82 games in his return to the Nuggets.
The Nuggets will face decisions on Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones, as they are restricted free agents. Denver has the right to match any offer sheet they sign, but both are set for significant raises if they stick around; Watson averaged 14.4 points per game this season, while Jones gave the Nuggets 22 minutes per night for less than $700,000.
Here's more to know about the Nuggets' cap situation.
Nuggets cap space 2026-27
The Nuggets currently have the second-highest cap allocations for 2026-27, meaning only one team — the Warriors — is due to pay more money against the cap next season.
While only team is currently even below the cap because the NBA allows so much flexibility when it comes to re-signing your own players, Spotrac projects the Nuggets as being above the first apron but below the second apron.
With so little salary coming off the books in the offseason and Watson due for a new deal if he's brought back, it could be hard to envision a high-impact addition being made by Denver.
It would be a bit of a stunner to see the Nuggets fire David Adelman after one full season, but the reality is his seat is already starting to warm up.
Denver drew a line in the sand with Michael Malone that competing for championships was the expectation. Even after entering this season with what was believed to be a stronger roster, the Nuggets instead bowed out of the playoffs a round earlier than they did with Adelman as interim coach a year ago.
Assuming Adelman returns for another season, ownership's bold action to fire Malone two years after a championship means the possibility of another shakeup can't be ruled out in 2027.
Jokic has long been viewed as a player who could just quietly walk away when the time is right. He's still only 31, but the Nuggets have to be careful to keep him believing he can win another championship. The first step to locking him in is signing him to another max extension.
Jokic passed on the opportunity to sign a max deal last offseason because he can sign a larger deal this offseason. "My plan is to be a Nugget forever," Jokic told reporters after delaying extension talks. Jokic can become a free agent as early as next summer, when he can opt out of his current contract, but a new deal can quell any talks of the three-time MVP's time in Denver ending prematurely.
