However, it seems like after each offseason that passes, a piece of the Nuggets’ title-winning team heads out for one reason or another.<\/p>\n
Nuggets’ Title-Winning Pieces Just Keep Leaving<\/p>\n
Last offseason, it was Michael Porter Jr. who was traded away from Denver to the Brooklyn Nets; a big domino to fall as it relates to the 2023 roster breaking off from one another, meaning that only three of the Nuggets’ five starters from that season were still on the roster.<\/p>\n
And this offseason, the departures have only continued.<\/p>\n
After a long wait throughout free agency, Peyton Watson just got dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a> in a sign-and-trade deal. Bruce Brown\u2013\u2013after his second stint in Denver\u2013\u2013doesn’t appear slated to be back on another contract for next season, considering he still remains in free agency creeping into September.<\/p>\n Apr 9, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Bruce Brown (11) talks with forward Peyton Watson (8) in the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n So now, that leaves the Nuggets with only five players from that 2022-23 roster. Three of them were starters, while the rest came off the bench: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Zeke Nnaji.<\/p>\n Signs seem to point towards those five hanging on until opening night arrives in October. However, this offseason certainly hasn’t been without its rumors linking the remaining five players on the roster to their respective trade talks.<\/p>\n Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon were floated around as a potential major shakeup to Denver’s roster following their first-round exit in the postseason. Christian Braun and his massive $125 million contract were deemed a likely trade candidate<\/a> if the Nuggets could find a deal for him, and Zeke Nnaji has seen his fair share of chatter as well.<\/p>\n Even Nikola Jokic has been thrown into the trade machine a handful of times this offseason, as it seems increasingly unlikely that he’ll be signing an extension this summer, and may opt for unrestricted free agency in 2027.<\/p>\n So there’s a world where, in a year’s time, the total Nuggets from that 2023 roster still signed on gets even slimmer. Depending on what happens with Nnaji before the upcoming season kicks off, there’s a chance he could find his way out of Denver before opening night in a bit of a cost-saving move.<\/p>\n The Nuggets, if they’re going to make another run deep in the postseason, will have to do it with vastly different surrounding pieces from what was had when they won a championship. This offseason, they’ve put together an interesting set of players to try and make that happen, but many still argue whether or not it’s truly enough to stack up with that first title-caliber group in 2023.<\/p>\n Time will tell whether or not they’re capable of reaching those same heights. And if they do, it’d be a major credit to those still on from that first run in 2023 to reach the top of the mountain once again.<\/p>\n![\"Apr](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/01m0ntxt1d8vn1wzwfk7.jpg\" "\\"Apr")
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\"){kind=icon}
Add us as a preferred source on Google