Jake Coyne

Head of NBA Research, @StatsPerform | NBA Data Analysis | Opinions represent only myself

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

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: https://t.co/yyLG9qj2Pe

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

Nuggets hold SGA to 2 points on 0-for-7 shooting that half.

It’s the first time SGA has gone without a made shot in a half in three years - last time he did: October 29, 2023 against the Nuggets.

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

@GraceJNBA (Cody Williams was traded to Minnesota)

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

@prmorphine There are no salary cap implications with two way contracts, they can let go guys and bring new ones in as needed.

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

@RFreemyer @jmorton78 I wouldn’t read too much into it. Could be as simple as he just hasn’t gotten his physical done yet - the Nuggets have kind of been 1-2 weeks late on making things official this summer anyways.

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

@prmorphine A majority of them have never been made public, as far as I’ve seen

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

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?

[Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto]

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 @TheStatSquatch]

@trippycollector To me, it’s not worth it mathematically. His waived and stretched salary is about $3M for 5 years. If you account for replacing his spot with a vet min then that’s $5.5M, so we are really only talking $2M in savings (from his $7.5M) in exchange for 5 years of dead money.

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

One of several signs that Bruce Brown will not be returning to the Nuggets next season.

Brown played in 162 of 164 possible games across two seasons with the Nuggets, and was credited by Jamal Murray as “Denver’s best on-ball defender” during the 2026 postseason.

[Etienne Catalan @EtienneCatalan]

Alpha Diallo will wear No. 11 for the #Nuggets. Number last worn by Bruce Brown in 2026. #NBA

[92.5 FM - Denver's Altitude Sports Radio @AltitudeSR]

. @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

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

@Camjohntruther It is billed at the end of the season.

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

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.

[Bennett Durando @BennettDurando]

With this move, the Nuggets have entered the second apron.

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

@RFreemyer I have always thought if they do a S&T with Watson it would involve Zeke to avoid some of those issues. Now, it basically HAS to involve him (or someone has to be moved in a separate deal). Or else yes, only picks.

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

@najera4ever Correct, they’d match with early bird rights.

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

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.

[Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto]

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.

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

@HPbasketball Spencer Jones on a minimum 1+1 makes a lot of sense. Not sure he has another above minimum offer out there

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

@sarahoetomato @jmorton78 We will see what they end up doing. But I don’t value Spencer above the minimum, personally, so if he’s seeking above that I’m fine going with other options.

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

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.

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

BREAKING: The Oklahoma City Thunder trading All-Defensive wing Lu Dort to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal that sends three second-round picks to OKC, former No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks and Ryan Nembhard to Atlanta, sources tell ESPN.

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

@DenverThugget @prmorphine Order doesn’t matter. They can’t do it either way (unless they stay below the second apron)

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

@DenverThugget @prmorphine There are certain moves you make that hard cap you at one of the aprons - meaning you cannot at any point, with any money (even minimums) go over that tax apron. Acquiring a player using an outgoing sign and trade is one of those moves, which hard caps you at the 2nd apron.

[Jake Coyne @TheStatSquatch]

@prmorphine No, they’d have to legally be at 14 guys while still being under the 2nd apron. Cannot pass it at any point the rest of the season