Giannis Antetokounmpo has been dominating the league storylines with his trade rumors, but the ripples are reaching far beyond the walls of the Cream City.
With the regular season wrapped up, the league’s front offices are positioning themselves for a massive postseason superstar reshuffle, and the Denver Nuggets are emerging as one of the prime teams.
How a Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Could Impact the Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets finished the 2025-26 regular season at 54-28, third in the Western Conference. But the early playoff exit exposed a clear need for roster flexibility and reevaluation.
With the New York Knicks breaking the 53-year drought to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy, the pressure is higher than ever.
The trade for the Greek Freak has narrowed down to two teams: the Miami Heat (43-39) and the Boston Celtics (56-26).
While acquiring the 10-time All-Star would shift the power dynamics in the Eastern Conference, the rest of the league is bracing for the change.
According to league insider Marc Stein, the trade market is heating up, and teams are preparing for the post-Giannis landscape.
“Significant attention will be paid to the Denver Nuggets once an Antetokounmpo deal goes through and the various follow-up and reset moves made by teams that met with playoff disappointment ensue,” Stein wrote.
He added, “The early word on the Nuggets: I’m told Aaron Gordon, who turns 31 in September, is the Denver veteran drawing the strongest external trade interest. Next season will be the first on a three-year, $103.6 million contract extension that Gordon secured after helping Nikola Jokić and Co. win the first championship in the team’s NBA history in 2022-23.”
Gordon signed a three-year, $103.6 million contract with $103,608,840 in guaranteed money and an average annual salary of $34,536,280.
For the 2026-27 season, he will make $31.9 million while occupying 19.38% of the team’s total salary cap.
Meanwhile, three-time MVP Nikola Jokić will earn a staggering $59 million, covering 35.78% of the team’s total cap.
While Gordon’s versatility alongside the franchise cornerstone remains elite, keeping the roster together is proving difficult for the franchise. They currently sit an estimated $16 million over the luxury tax line.
“League sources say that the Nuggets preferred course for a roster shakeup is finding a trade market for Christian Braun rather than entertaining deals that involve Gordon or Jamal Murray after Murray’s first All-Star season, but those efforts are rife with challenges. Yet it’s likewise true that injuries have limited Gordon to 87 games over the past two seasons.”
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Shedding salary is a top priority if Denver wants to keep its young core. Stein reported that the Nuggets want to re-sign restricted free agent Peyton Watson this summer.
Before that, they are searching for trades that would create more financial flexibility and help with the NBA’s luxury tax apron.
After a 4-2 first-round playoff exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Mile High crew faces big decisions.
They must make changes while navigating the NBA’s strict luxury tax aprons. Whether the Nuggets trade Gordon or move other players, their next step will shape their championship hopes for next season.
