Denver remains a perennial 50-win contender as the Nuggets head into 2025-26 with a coaching transition under David Adelman and a sharpened roster. Bleacher Report’s preview pins Denver at 54-28, four wins better than 2024-25, a mark that would tie for the franchise’s fourth-most all-time. Nikola Jokic stands as the anchor, with Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon in position to push the offense, while the return of Bruce Brown and the addition of Tim Hardaway Jr. strengthen the wing and secondary scoring. In the frontcourt, Cameron Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas join a core that already includes Christian Braun, DaRon Holmes II, and Julian Strawther, giving Denver increasing floor spacing, savvy finishing, and interior presence.

The Nuggets open the season October 23 vs. Golden State, a showcase for their revamped rotation and Adelman’s system. FanDuel’s over/under sits at 53.5 wins, underscoring the expectation of a tight, high-caliber campaign. The chatter around Jokic remains that he’s the near-unanimous top asset in the world, with Burns of the fan base in Milwaukee, L.A., and Oklahoma City still debating the case for others. Denver’s mix of MVP-caliber talent and reinforced depth keeps them squarely in the championship mix as they chase another deep playoff run.

Denver reshapes its roster around Jokic, Murray and Gordon by trading Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn for Cameron Johnson, freeing cap space to sign Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. and adding Jonas Valanciunas from Sacramento. The goal is a deeper, more versatile bench that can sustain playoff runs without overburdening the core. Westbrook isn’t expected back, and Sacramento is viewed as the favorite to sign him as a potential late–season spark for a competing squad. The coaching shift from Malone to Adelman could further influence how minutes are distributed and which role players emerge as fantasy sleepers.

Cameron Johnson’s floor spacing, Brown’s guard versatility, Hardaway Jr.’s shooting, and Valanciunas’s inside presence give Jokic more options and lift the Nuggets’ depth. For fantasy, Jokic and Murray remain the anchors, while the new pieces shift value across the roster—especially Brown, Johnson, and Valanciunas—who could become steady fantasy contributors if minutes hold or increase. Westbrook’s departure opens a path for the Nuggets to lean more on their core and rotation pieces rather than streaming a heavy sixth man workload.

Denver’s offseason pivot pairs Jokic with a versatile shooting wing by shipping Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn for Cam Johnson, a move the front office hopes will deepen the Nuggets’ depth while preserving top-end upside. Johnson’s multi-positional defense and outside shooting give Jokic a cleaner floor to operate on, with less defensive strain on the surrounding pieces. Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley labeled the swap a potential top offseason move for 2025, arguing it adds impact without surrendering core capability.

Johnson’s fit isn’t about raw counting stats; it’s about the team’s balance. He can defend multiple positions and knock down threes, which should improve spacing for Jokic’s playmaking and reduce the need for Jokic to overextend on offense. Porter’s departure shifts some usage, but the Nets gain a high-usage scorer elsewhere, while Denver lands a flexible, high-IQ wing. If the new model clicks, this could be a defining upgrade of the summer for the Nuggets.

Denver’s off-season pivot centers on depth, cap space and a championship mindset. Michael Porter Jr. was moved to Brooklyn for Cameron Johnson, freeing room to sign Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. and paving the way for a Jonas Valanciunas swap with Sacramento. The Nuggets now flank Jokic, Murray and Gordon with a deeper rotation built for 48 minutes of top-tier basketball and floor spacing that should amplify their star trio. The move aims to make Denver the league’s most credible challengers to OKC’s rising force while preserving the championship core that carried them to the 2023 title.

Bleacher Report recently ranked the Nuggets’ Big 3 as the second-best in the league, behind the Thunder, noting the trio’s championship experience and net rating despite limited individual awards. Denver’s new bench setup, anchored by Johnson’s shooting, Brown’s versatility, and Hardaway Jr.’s scoring, is designed to sustain elite offense and tighter defense in a demanding Western Conference. The narrative centers on a tested, harmonious core now supported by a deeper, more flexible role players group that could push Denver back into the title photo next season.

Michael Porter Jr. used his latest podcast appearance to sound the alarm on gambling in basketball, arguing that even small bets can ripple into big, unintended harm for friends and fans who chase profits from his name. He floated a hypothetical scheme where a player cues a big under bet, then rests early to pad a buddy’s winnings, calling it clearly unacceptable and dangerous for players who come from nothing. The Nets forward’s comments come amid a broader, public discussion about how betting can shape decision-making on and off the court.

Porter ties the gambling convo to real-life cases in the NBA world, citing his brother Jontay Porter’s 2024 ban after sharing confidential information with bettors, and pointing to other players like Malik Beasley and Terry Rozier who have faced legal or league scrutiny. He argues the entire sports-gambling ecosystem is broken and likely to worsen. The league’s rules are laid out plainly: no NBA betting by players or staff; fantasy hoops is allowed only without cash prizes; the NBA enforces the policy with liaisons, data teams, and monitors. The trade backdrop isn’t ignored either; Porter Jr. joined the Brooklyn Nets in a deal that sent Cam Johnson in the opposite direction, a reminder of how rosters and narratives continually shift in today’s gambling-conscious landscape.