The Lakers, Knicks, and Heat have built-in advantages when trying to attract free agents. But the Nuggets have something just as powerful: Nikola Jokic.
Sure, Denver doesn’t offer the nightlife of New York, the beaches of Miami, or the star power of Los Angeles. But the “Nikola Jokic Effect” has proven to be a major selling point—and the team may need to rely on it more than ever this offseason, as they search for depth that Jokic himself has called for.
“It’s definitely a big part of our pitch. It has been for a few years,” said team president Josh Kroenke. “It’s not like we broadcast that out. But yeah, in a nutshell, if you’re a certain type of player with a certain type of skill set, I think if you come play next to Jok, you’re gonna look pretty good. And that ‘pretty good’ might result in you getting paid pretty high.”
Just look at the pattern: Jerami Grant in Portland. Bruce Brown in Indiana. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in Orlando. And soon, likely Christian Braun in Denver via an extension.
Teaming up with Jokic has become a smart business move for many role players. Now, can the Nuggets use that to their advantage again? They need players capable of contributing in the playoffs, but with limited cap space and roster slots (read more here), their options are restricted to the $5.7 million taxpayer mid-level exception and minimum contracts.
For the most part (with some exceptions—“That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?”), free agents in their 20s who’ve gained popularity through low-cost deals aren’t likely to land in Denver. Think players like Ty Jerome, Malik Beasley, Santi Aldama, or even Gary Trent Jr., who dropped multiple 30-point playoff games for Milwaukee on a minimum deal.
Still, the league is currently facing a bit of a cap-space crunch, which means blockbuster moves are more likely to happen via trade than through free agency. So, which players could Denver realistically pursue given their limitations? Veterans chasing a title? Young players trying to prove their worth?
Here are 13 potential targets, along with their 2024-25 salary and age on opening day:
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Bruce Brown, Pelicans
Position/Age: G / 29
2024-25 Salary: $23 million (expiring)
Let’s start with the most obvious one. Since helping the Nuggets win a title, Brown has bounced between three teams—but his connection to Denver remains strong. He was treated like a fan favorite when he attended a playoff game at Ball Arena last month. And when David Adelman was promoted to head coach, Brown reposted the team’s announcement on his Instagram story. Nobody seems more eager to wear a Nuggets jersey again. His injury-marred season makes his market hard to predict, but he’s already had his payday. This could be the time to follow his heart—this reunion feels very plausible.
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Chris Boucher, Raptors
Position/Age: F / 32
2024-25 Salary: $10.8 million (expiring)
The Nuggets explored Boucher as a trade target before the deadline. Now, after his second-best shooting season (averaging 10 points in 17 minutes), the Raptors’ longest-tenured player might be available. Boucher stretches the floor and offers decent wing defense for his size (6’9″, 200 lbs). Luring the Montreal native away from Canada on a smaller deal could be tough, but he fits the profile for Denver’s TMLE.
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Tyus Jones, Suns
Position/Age: G / 29
2024-25 Salary: $3 million ($2.1M cap hit)
Jones joined Phoenix on a minimum deal hoping to boost his value on a contending team. He stayed healthy, shot 41.4% from three, and maintained his reputation as one of the league’s most reliable assist-to-turnover guards (4.7). However, his defense faltered, and he didn’t contribute much to winning—eventually losing his starting role as the Suns slipped from 6th to 11th in the West. Do his numbers justify a bigger deal this time? Or should he look for another short-term fit? If it’s the latter, he’s exactly the kind of player Denver should target with the Jokic pitch. They could even offer nearly double what Phoenix did.
