Mile High Tape · Around the beat

Rank Debates Aside, Denver's Passing Math Isn't the Question

The Nuggets' beat is arguing over national rankings, a bench lineup, a backup point guard and a cap-relief trade, but none of it challenges the continuity already on the floor.

By the Nuggets Nightly Desk · Friday, September 25

National rankings, a Christian Braun trade idea, and interest in a Hornets guard are this week's noise on the Nuggets beat. Measured against the roster and the cap sheet, most of it is speculation that hasn't touched an actual transaction.

Nuggets Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Is Jokic still the best player alive?

Mile High Sports' Ryan Blackburn ranks Jokic the best player in the NBA today, and FOX31's Adam Rosen noted every Nuggets player made ESPN's 2026 rankings. Nugg Love's David Decker dismissed the exercise as meaningless. The numbers settle it better than any list: 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists a night last season, with Denver's offense ranked first in the league.

Does the bench have a lineup worth trusting?

Decker also argued Denver's revamped bench has one lineup worth a real run. Last season's data backs a version of that claim: the Valanciunas-Hardaway Jr.-Murray-Brown-Watson five played 96 minutes across 17 games and posted a plus-17.5 net rating. Both Brown and Watson are gone now, so whatever bench trust Decker is describing has to be rebuilt with different personnel.

Is Denver actually chasing a backup point guard?

Decker floated Ryan Nembhard as an answer to Denver's backup point guard depth, and RealGM reported multiple teams, including the Nuggets, would have interest if the Hornets waive him; Hoops Rumors' Dana Gauruder reported that waiver is likely. So far, no such move has been reported. The additions Denver actually made this week were Coleman Hawkins, Dane Goodwin and Emanuel Miller, not a guard cut loose elsewhere, and Murray and Tyus Jones still run the point.

Would trading Braun actually fix the cap?

Decker also pitched a Christian Braun trade to Memphis as a path to a luxury-tax reset. The number behind the idea is real: Denver's payroll sits at $221.1 million, above the $209.0 million first apron and the $200.4 million tax line. But Braun is still on the roster, no such deal has been reported as agreed, and the idea is Decker's, not a move in progress.

Is Nikola Jokic still considered the best player in the NBA?

Mile High Sports ranked him the top player in the league entering 2026-27, and his last-season numbers back it up: 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists a game.

Are the Nuggets trading Christian Braun?

Not as of September 25. A Braun-to-Memphis trade is an idea floated by Nugg Love, not a reported deal, and Braun remains on Denver's roster.

By the Nuggets Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.