Now, the Denver Nuggets are a favorite to get Jrue Holiday from the Boston Celtics in the offseason. The 35-year-old holiday will enter his four-year, the second quarter of a $134.4 million contract, 2025-26.
Nuggets Lead King, Mavericks in Jrue Holiday Trade Sweepstakes
In 62 games against Boston (all starts), the holiday averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 30.6 minutes, while shooting 44.3% from the field and 35.3% from three-pointers.
According to BETONLINE, the Nuggets have a drop of +500 odds this summer, followed by the Sacramento Kings (+550), the Dallas Mavericks (+600), the Orlando Magic (+700) and other teams.
| NBA team | Odds |
| Denver Nuggets | +500 |
| King Sacramento | +550 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +600 |
| Orlando Magic | +700 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +700 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +800 |
| Golden State Warriors | +1000 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +1000 |
| Miami Hot | +1200 |
| Detroit Pistons | +1600 |
For its fourth straight season, the Nuggets are expected to be a luxury tax team. Since Denver is a repeater tax team (four consecutive years), the current luxury tax penalty is the highest $36 million for a franchise before filling the roster.
However, these Nuggets have the flexibility to use the $5.7 million tax intermediate exception because they are below $100.6 million for the second apron, while Russell Westbrook rejected the $3.46 million player option for next season.
Per Spotac, Dario Saric also has to choose a $5.42 million contract for next season by June 29, while the other five players are free agents: Deandre Jordan, Vlatko Cancar, Trey Alexander (R), PJ Hall (R) and Spencer Jones (R).
Nuggets focus on retaining Nikola Jokic
More importantly, Denver’s top priority this offseason is to extend three-time MVP center Nikola Jokic, who qualifies for a three-year signing day after the NBA finals, with a $212.2 million extension.
Jokic replaced the 2027-28 player option in his first year with a $65.5 million salary and placed Jokic in Denver in the 2029-30 season. The Nuggets must keep seven All-Stars to keep their core intact.
The Nuggets have a first-round pick in 2031 or 2032. Denver owes Oklahoma City the most protected No. 1 in 2027. If not conveyed last season, the first one is in the top five in 2028.
Denver will give Thunder an additional five years of pre-select after sending out the original first. The second year also had the top five protections.
The Nuggets also have a second-round draft pick in 2032 that can also be traded.
Denver can target Miami’s Terry Rozier
If Denver can’t add holidays, the team can catch up with Miami Heat veteran Terry Rozier. The Clippers are a favorite for trading Rozier (+325), but every Bovada, the Nuggets (+350) are there.
In 64 games (23 games) of the Heat this season, Rozier averaged 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 25.9 minutes of games, while the floor shot 39.1% and Deep shot 29.5% from the field.
Rozier, 31, will enter his last season of four-year, $96.25 million contract in 2025-26.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst reported last weekend that the Clippers were Kevin Durant’s “team” because they “have contracts to sign to add Kawhi Leonard and potential James Harden.
If the Clippers can get Durant, it can open the door for Denver to get a vacation or Rozier’s door.
