3 Denver Nuggets Who Won't Be Back Next Season

The Denver Nuggets flamed out in the playoffs once again this season, and the team must now decide how to move forward with a massive payroll weighing them down.

Superstar Nikola Jokic and his sidekick Jamal Murray took the team to an NBA title in 2023, but much of the supporting cast is gone, and even The Joker admitted that the team is “far away” from winning another championship. “If we were in Serbia, we would all get fired," he said.

With that, the Nuggets are at a crossroads this summer. There's even been some talk of a potential trade of Murray. Regardless, there will be changes. Even if Murray stays, these three are likely on the outs, and won't return next year:

Jonas Valaciunas

Controversy surrounded the acquisition of the big man from Lithuania last summer, as rumors began making the rounds that he would break his contract with the Nuggets and head overseas to Europe. That didn't happen... but neither did any significant impact on the Denver lineup for JV. At a $10M salary, the Nuggets could save a lot of room under the luxury tax on a backup center at a much cheaper number. They have an option to terminate his contract.

Besides, the rumors have already started up that Valanciunas will be casting his eye overseas once again this summer.

Tim Haraway Jr.

The 13-year veteran had a tremendous comeback season for the Nuggets, and finished 3rd in Sixth Man of the Year balloting. But after playing on a $3.63M minimum deal this season, he will look to cash in for perhaps his last big kick at the free agent can, at the age of 34. He will be too pricey for the Nuggets to afford, given their second apron tax worries.

Peyton Watson vs. Cam Johnson

Don't get us wrong. The Nuggets would badly love to retain Watson, the restricted free agent who had an incredible breakout campaign in Denver this season. But there will be teams with a lot of cap room ready to pounce with some big offer sheets. The Nuggets, in their current state of bloated payroll, could not afford to match.

Unless... They trade Cam Johnson instead. If they could unload the $23M on the final year of his deal, they could afford to keep Watson. It basically comes down to a choice between the two.