Denver Bet Its Future Picks on a Window That's Open Right Now
Denver signed away three first-round picks to Oklahoma City, and the only defense for that bet is the roster built to cash it in immediately.
The Nuggets enter the season with a payroll of $221.1 million, already past the threshold where the luxury tax starts and closing in on the second apron at $221.7 million. Three first-round picks between 2028 and 2030 are protected away to Oklahoma City, a trade-off that only pays off if this core wins before those picks would have mattered anyway.
What Denver Gave Up
Three first-round picks — 2028, 2029 and 2030 — are protected before they convey to Oklahoma City. Second-round picks are owed to Utah, Washington and Charlotte, with a swap attached to the 2030 second-rounder. None of that moves if Denver loses early; all of it already happened before this season tipped off.
What Denver Kept
Nikola Jokic averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists over 65 games last season; Jamal Murray averaged 25.4 points and 7.1 assists over 75. Denver's offense finished No. 1 among NBA teams, with a net rating of 5.2 that ranked seventh. DeMar DeRozan returned on a one-year deal and Ryan Nembhard joined on a two-way contract — not long-term bets, just continuity around the two stars already running the offense.
Where the Bet Gets Tested
Oklahoma City eliminated Denver in seven games in last year's second round. A year earlier, Denver blew a 20-point lead in a Game 7 loss to Minnesota. Both series are rematches waiting to happen, and both are the reason picks due in 2028 through 2030 were worth trading away now rather than holding for a rebuild nobody in Denver is planning.
The Answer
Mortgaging future first-rounders only looks reckless if the team doing it isn't actually finished contending. At 31, Jokic is still the game's best passer from the post, and the roster around him is built for the next two or three seasons, not the next decade. Denver's front office already answered the big question about its own window — it just answered it with contracts and protected picks instead of words.
Which Nuggets draft picks are owed to Oklahoma City?
Denver's first-round picks in 2028, 2029 and 2030 are all protected before they convey to Oklahoma City, part of a broader slate that also sends second-round picks to Utah, Washington and Charlotte.
Is Denver over the luxury tax this season?
Yes. Denver's payroll stands at $221.1 million, above the threshold where the tax begins and within range of the $221.7 million second apron.
