​The Denver Nuggets have missed on a number of trade and free-agent targets this offseason, including players such as Jaylen Brown and Kawhi Leonard, and they have struggled to close on smaller deals with prospective players despite interest in them. Most recently, reports indicated the Nuggets were on a short list to sign Anfernee Simons, but Simons ultimately chose the Philadelphia 76ers, who have been one of the busiest teams this offseason and have completely reshaped their roster. In 2025-26, Simons rose to prominence, averaging 15.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. The Nuggets badly need shooting after losing Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Celtics, and Simons would have been a perfect fit alongside Nikola Jokic. League sources said that Anfernee Simons drew interest from the 76ers, Warriors, Heat, Nuggets, Mavericks, and Pacers. Simons ultimately agreed to a two-year, $12.3 million deal with a player option in the second year, per ESPN.
A Quiet Offseason
Denver’s limited activity in free agency raises concerns for several reasons. The pressure is on the franchise after Jokic declined to sign an extension this offseason, delaying negotiations until next year. The biggest signal should be that the Nuggets need to build a championship-contending team around Jokic before he feels confident enough to commit long-term. Despite a strong regular season in which they finished third in the Western Conference, injuries plagued them, and they were eliminated in the first round by the Timberwolves, failing to recapture the level of success they enjoyed after winning the 2023 title. Free-agent guard Anfernee Simons has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $12.3 million deal with the 76ers, with a player option in the second year, as ESPN reported. Simons reportedly chose the 76ers over other suitors because he believed his fit with their revamped roster was ideal.
Missing Out On Players
Team owner support for the plan to “run it back” with much of the same core has been vocal, yet the Nuggets have already fallen short of that objective by losing Hardaway Jr. and not re-signing Peyton Watson in free agency. This inaction, combined with their hesitancy in free agency, underscores concerns about Denver’s future roster-building trajectory and raises questions about why the team has struggled to attract free agents. Jokic may also delay signing an extension, according to The Stein Line, and could explore 2027 free agency, providing more context for the team’s long-term planning.