The Denver Nuggets are making waves across the NBA landscape as the 2025-26 season approaches, thanks to a flurry of offseason moves, renewed championship expectations, and even a rookie guard turning heads for his unconventional approach to social media. With the regular season less than two months away, Denver’s front office has been anything but quiet, orchestrating a series of trades and signings that have transformed the roster and ignited hopes for a deep playoff run.
Let’s start with the headline-grabbing transactions. The Nuggets kicked off their summer by trading Michael Porter Jr. and a future first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for sharpshooting forward Cameron Johnson. This bold move was just the beginning. Denver then secured the services of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown through free agency, adding proven perimeter depth and playoff experience. Not content to stop there, the Nuggets acquired veteran center Jonas Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings, bolstering their bench and adding a reliable presence in the paint behind Nikola Jokic.
These upgrades have not gone unnoticed. According to ESPN insiders, the Nuggets now rank as the No. 2 team most likely to win the 2026 NBA Finals, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder. That’s no small feat, considering the Thunder bested Denver in a hard-fought seven-game series during last season’s Western Conference semifinals. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon summed up the mood: “The 2023 champion Nuggets are seen as the biggest challenger to the Thunder’s repeat. After pushing Oklahoma City to seven games in the West semifinals, Denver maneuvered this summer to provide Jokic the deepest supporting cast of his career.”
Indeed, the current Nuggets roster—anchored by Jokic, Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, and Aaron Gordon—looks deeper than at any point since their 2023 championship run. The additions of Johnson, Hardaway Jr., Brown, and Valanciunas are expected to provide the kind of versatility and scoring punch that could help Denver overcome the playoff hurdles that have tripped them up the past two years. After disappointing second-round exits to the Timberwolves and Thunder, the pressure is on to convert potential into postseason results. “It’s not now or never for Jokic to add a second championship ring, but he’s probably got another four or five years to do it,” MacMahon noted, underscoring the sense of urgency swirling around the franchise.
But while the Nuggets are focused on the future, one of their past first-round picks is generating buzz elsewhere in the Western Conference. Bones Hyland, Denver’s 26th overall selection in the 2021 NBA Draft, is reportedly drawing interest from the Minnesota Timberwolves as a free agent. NBA insider Jake Fischer reported, “Minnesota has two open spots and the Timberwolves, sources say, would like to have Bones Hyland back in the fold.”
Hyland showed real promise during his rookie campaign with Denver, averaging 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game while shooting an efficient 40.3% from the field and 37.1% from beyond the arc. Despite those flashes, the Nuggets traded the energetic guard to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2023. His journey since then has been a winding one: three seasons with the Clippers, a brief stint with the Atlanta Hawks (who ultimately waived him), and a short tenure with the Timberwolves, where he appeared in just four games last season.
Despite limited playing time in Minnesota, the Timberwolves appear interested in bringing the 24-year-old Hyland back for the upcoming campaign. However, with a crowded backcourt, his role would likely remain small, offering him a chance to continue developing and perhaps rediscover the spark that made him a first-round pick. As the free agency period continues, Hyland’s future remains uncertain, with little buzz elsewhere in the league. Still, the Timberwolves’ interest is a testament to the potential teams still see in his game.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets’ focus on player development extends beyond their headline stars and former draft picks. Enter Spencer Jones, Denver’s rookie guard who’s making a name for himself not just on the court, but in the digital world—specifically, on LinkedIn. In an era where most NBA players gravitate toward Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok, Jones has embraced the business-oriented platform with gusto. His profile is active, meticulously curated, and filled with posts drawing parallels between NBA life and entrepreneurial pursuits. It’s an approach that sets him apart from the typical rookie.
Jones, a 2024 Stanford graduate with a degree in Management Science and Engineering, treats his professional basketball career as an internship for future endeavors. After going undrafted, he signed a two-way contract with Denver last season, appearing in 20 NBA games and averaging 1.3 points and 0.9 rebounds per contest. While those numbers might not leap off the page, Jones made his mark in the G League with the Grand Rapids Gold, putting up 14.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game. His shooting splits were even more impressive: 51.8% from the field and a scorching 45.7% from three-point range in 21 games.
Recognizing his potential as a three-and-D contributor, the Nuggets re-signed Jones to another two-way deal for the 2025-26 season. At 24, he’s older than most NBA prospects and faces a pivotal year to cement his place in the league. Yet, with his high-efficiency shooting and cerebral approach to both basketball and life after the game, Jones is already planning for the future—on and off the hardwood.
All these storylines underscore just how much is riding on the upcoming season for Denver. The front office has assembled what many believe is the deepest, most talented roster since their 2023 title run. Jokic remains the engine, but the supporting cast is stronger than ever. The presence of promising young players like Jones, along with the possibility of former Nuggets like Hyland finding their way back to relevance, speaks to the franchise’s commitment to both immediate results and long-term growth.
As training camp draws near and anticipation builds, the Nuggets are firmly in the NBA spotlight. Can Denver turn offseason optimism into championship reality? With the regular season just weeks away, the stage is set for Jokic and company to chase another parade—and perhaps, for a few unexpected heroes to emerge along the way.
