The Thunder simply completely screwed the Nuggets with ruthless transfer -

The Denver Nuggets’ low season was already off to a sluggish begin when the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder dealt them a crushing blow. The Thunder gave ahead Spencer Jones a qualifying provide that compelled the Nuggets to match and pushed them into the second apron.

That was a devious transfer that compelled Denver’s hand. It is not simply that they had been compelled to signal Jones for greater than anticipated; it is that they nonetheless need to re-sign Peyton Watson.

Even when Watson takes the qualifying provide, in keeping with ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Nuggets would have a $112 million tax invoice along with a $229 million payroll.

On the very minimal, their luxurious tax penalty will enhance to $112M with the Peyton Watson Qualifying Provide. https://t.co/TLTTXxfEZ7

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 27, 2026

The Denver Nuggets are caught between a rock and a tough place

Denver is very unlikely to pay that tax invoice, and the meddling Thunder all however ensures the Nuggets should make no less than one commerce. Cam Johnson or Christian Braun are the more than likely candidates to be shipped out.

Even when they had been to commerce Johnson to, say, the Boston Celtics, who’ve a commerce exception giant sufficient to amass him with out sending gamers again, the Nuggets would nonetheless be too costly.

In spite of everything, the Nuggets reportedly supplied Watson a 5-year, $70 million deal, which is $14 million per season. In the meantime, the qualifying provide that Marks was utilizing to calculate the Nuggets’ tax invoice was for $6.5 million.

Merely put, Denver would most likely have to maneuver on from Johnson and Zeke Nnaji or Braun whereas taking again little or no in return.

The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder are sabotaging the Nuggets

The Thunder going out of their method to give Jones a qualifying provide was a strategic transfer on their half. The Nuggets, regardless of having fallen behind within the West, are one of many few groups able to beating OKC.

Forcing them to make powerful roster choices is a intelligent method to weaken their rivals. It additionally ensures they will not be a menace to Oklahoma Metropolis subsequent season.

Even when they had been to re-sign Watson, odds are, they must quit Johnson, who’s a starter, for nothing now. In doing so, at finest, the Nuggets can have had a middling offseason with out really enhancing.