Denver's Roster Is Set. The Preseason Barely Matters Now
Three camp cuts on Oct. 18 close the roster four days before the lights count at Oklahoma City.
Denver waived Coleman Hawkins, Dane Goodwin and Emanuel Miller on Oct. 18, trimming camp down to the roster that will actually take the regular season. The preseason finale, a 121-106 win at the Lakers on Oct. 16, no longer affects any standings; what it showed about depth is what carries forward.
The Three Who Didn't Make It
Hawkins, Goodwin and Miller each joined camp on Sept. 25. All three left the roster on Oct. 18, a routine trim that still matters: it confirms the 15-man group Denver is carrying into the regular season, with no further roster questions pending from this camp class.
What the Lakers Win Still Tells Us
Denver closed preseason 3-2, beating the Lakers 121-106 on Oct. 16 behind 21 points from Murray and 17 from Jokic, who added eight assists. The bench answered too: Trevon Brazile and Cameron Johnson each scored 12. None of it changes a record, but it's the clearest look yet at who Adelman trusts in close minutes.
The Number Sitting Over All of It
Denver's payroll stands at $221.1 million, above the $209.0 million first apron, with Jokic's $59.0 million deal the largest on the books. Camp-level moves like Tuesday's cuts are the cheap end of roster management; the expensive decisions were made months ago and now just have to pay off.
Six Days to Oklahoma City
The regular season opens Oct. 22 at the Thunder, without Strawther, who is out at least six weeks with a left knee sprain. Denver's best five-man unit from last season, Jokic, Murray, Johnson, Watson and Jones, posted a net rating of plus-20.1 across 171 minutes. Whether that group reassembles intact once games count is the first real question of the year.
Who did the Nuggets waive on Oct. 18?
Denver waived Coleman Hawkins, Dane Goodwin and Emanuel Miller, finalizing its roster ahead of the regular season.
When do the Nuggets open the 2026-27 regular season?
Denver opens on the road at Oklahoma City on Oct. 22, six days after closing preseason with a 121-106 win at the Lakers.
