The Denver Nuggets' off-season was already off to a slow start when the Oklahoma City Thunder dealt them a crushing blow. The Thunder gave forward Spencer Jones a qualifying offer that forced the Nuggets to match and pushed them into the second apron.
That was a devious move that forced Denver's hand. It isn't just that they were forced to sign Jones for more than expected; it's that they still have to re-sign Peyton Watson.
Even if Watson takes the qualifying offer, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks, the Nuggets would have a $112 million tax bill in addition to a $229 million payroll.
At the very minimal, their luxury tax penalty will increase to $112M with the Peyton Watson Qualifying Offer. https://t.co/TLTTXxfEZ7
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 27, 2026
The Denver Nuggets are stuck between a rock and a hard place
Denver is highly unlikely to pay that tax bill, and the meddling Thunder all but ensures the Nuggets will have to make at least one trade. Cam Johnson or Christian Braun are the most likely candidates to be shipped out.
Even if they were to trade Johnson to, say, the Boston Celtics, who have a trade exception large enough to acquire him without sending players back, the Nuggets would still be too expensive.
After all, the Nuggets reportedly offered Watson a 5-year, $70 million deal, which is $14 million per season. Meanwhile, the qualifying offer that Marks was using to calculate the Nuggets' tax bill was for $6.5 million.
Simply put, Denver would probably have to move on from Johnson and Zeke Nnaji or Braun while taking back very little in return.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are sabotaging the Nuggets
The Thunder going out of their way to give Jones a qualifying offer was a strategic move on their part. The Nuggets, despite having fallen behind in the West, are one of the few teams capable of beating OKC.
Forcing them to make tough roster decisions is a clever way to weaken their rivals. It also ensures they won't be a threat to Oklahoma City next season.
Even if they were to re-sign Watson, odds are, they would have to give up Johnson, who is a starter, for nothing now. In doing so, at best, the Nuggets will have had a middling offseason without actually improving.
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