Few teams have managed to remake their roster as much as the Denver Nuggets. They dramatically improved this offseason after trading Michael Porter Jr. and replacing him with Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valanciunas.
However, they should be keeping a close eye on the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers are being investigated by the NBA over alleged salary cap circumvention involving star Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard, according to sportswriter Pablo Torre, received up to $50 million in additional salary, on top of the $175 million he received from 2021 to 2025. If the Clippers are found to have done wrong, they could get pummeled by the NBA, possibly even resulting in Leonard's contract being voided.
That would be a nightmare scenario for the Clippers but could be a perfect opportunity for the Nuggets.
The Denver Nuggets must keep a close eye on the Kawhi Leonard situation
While the Nuggets wouldn't likely be at the top of Leonard's list, if his contract were voided, they would have a potential leg up in a Leonard sweepstakes. They have access to the full mid-level exception worth $14.3 million, a rarity for a contender at this stage of the offseason.
Money clearly appears to be a priority for Leonard, and being able to offer him the most amount of any contender could be a great selling point. He could also join a ready-made contender that features a top-three player in Nikola Jokic.
Even if he were to sign for just a season, he'd be well worth having for a potentially long playoff run with the Nuggets having to contend with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Denver came dangerously close to toppling the Thunder last season but came up just short.
They have dramatically improved this summer and appear to be Oklahoma City's biggest threat to a repeat. If the Nuggets can somehow add Leonard, then that could be a game changer and all but guarantee them a trip to the finals.
Adding Kawhi Leonard would be a game-changer for the Nuggets
Without Leonard, the Nuggets have already built a much deeper team that could push the Thunder next season. However, if Leonard shakes loose during the season, offering him the full mid-level exception would give them a leg up on the competition.
He could head to the highest bidder in the short term, and the Nuggets would potentially present an interesting landing spot. Imagine him suddenly becoming a free agent during the season, landing with the Nuggets, and having a strong few months, helping propel them to the NBA Finals.
It's a long shot but would depend on the league's findings and then on Leonard's decision were he to become available. But, if he does, then the Nuggets would potentially emerge as a possible landing spot for Leonard.