In the afterglow of a terrific summer push to improve their cap space and build out their depth, the Denver Nuggets are also facing a critical offseason decision to make on two critical contributors. The limitations of Denver’s 2024-25 roster became glaringly apparent after a pair of hard-fought seven-game playoff series this season. Despite fielding the de facto best player in the league, three-time MVP Center Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets have yet to return to even the Western Conference Finals since winning it all in 2023. During the 2025 playoffs, then-Denver starting forwards Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon both incurred significant injuries, and though they played through them they were essentially well-compensated paper decoys for the shorthanded squad.