Latest news with #BenTenzer
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Denver Nuggets 2025 NBA free agency grades for every signing
The post Denver Nuggets 2025 NBA free agency grades for every signing appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Denver Nuggets were one win away from knocking off the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. That near-miss was more than enough to convince the newly empowered front office, now led by Ben Tenzer and John Wallace, that a shakeup was necessary to return to the top of the mountain. And in a bold, decisive offseason, the Nuggets made a flurry of moves that suggest they aren't content with just being close – they're aiming to be elite again. Grades for every Denver Nuggets move in the 2025 free agency The Denver Nuggets made headlines during the 2025 NBA offseason and free agency, orchestrating a dramatic roster overhaul that signaled a shift in their long-term approach. Let's break down the 2025 offseason for Denver, including grades for their most notable additions in free agency. Jonas Valanciunas: A true backup for Jokic at last One of Denver's most persistent issues during its recent playoff runs has been the lack of a reliable backup center. When Nikola Jokic rests, the Nuggets' on-court identity tends to evaporate. Enter Jonas Valanciunas, a rugged veteran big man with touch around the rim, rebounding chops, and enough interior presence to run a functional second unit. The trade came through amid reports that Valanciunas is being pursued by the Greek basketball club Panathinaikos. Valanciunas isn't a perfect fit for every situation – he lacks mobility and doesn't stretch the floor, but for the regular season and select playoff matchups, he gives Denver exactly what it needs. The best part? His contract is manageable now that his previous inflated deal has been resolved. Grade: B+ Bruce Brown: The reunion tour begins When the Nuggets won the 2023 NBA Championship, Bruce Brown was the glue that held their bench together. He brought defense, energy, toughness, and timely shot-making to a squad that leaned heavily on chemistry and role clarity. After a brief and underwhelming stint away, Brown returns to a familiar setting where he's proven he can thrive. His ability to handle the ball, defend multiple positions, and elevate teammates will be a welcome sight off the bench, particularly as Jamal Murray continues to manage occasional injury absences. Grade: A Tim Hardaway Jr.: Floor spacing with firepower Denver's bench has sometimes suffered from a lack of consistent shooting, especially in the corners and off movement. Tim Hardaway Jr. isn't the most dynamic player, but he knows how to launch it. He'll come off screens, run the break, and knock down open threes, which Jokic will serve to him on a silver platter. While his defense is middling and his decision-making occasionally frustrating, his skillset addresses a critical need: scoring off the bench in spurts. He's not asked to be a star, just a contributor. Grade: B Blockbuster move: Michael Porter Jr. out, Cam Johnson in The headline move came early in free agency: Denver sent Michael Porter Jr. and a future first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for forward Cameron Johnson. It was a swing that made headlines across the league, both because of the name value and the implications. Johnson, while not the pure scorer Porter can be at his best, brings defensive versatility, smarter off-ball movement, and arguably a better basketball fit next to Nikola Jokic. He's a knockdown shooter who doesn't need the ball to thrive, and more importantly, he won't be hunted on defense as easily as Porter was. For a team that sometimes struggled to close games with MPJ on the floor in tight defensive contests, Johnson's arrival could make all the difference. The Nuggets are all-in again The Denver Nuggets' 2025 free agency wasn't about chasing stars – it was about cohesion, fit, and shoring up weaknesses. Thereofore, in Cam Johnson, they found a complementary piece for their best player. In Valanciunas, they added long-needed depth. In Brown and Hardaway Jr., they restored scoring, defense, and identity to the second unit. If this group stays healthy and if the new pieces click, there's little standing between the Nuggets and a serious run at another NBA title. As a result, new head coach David Adelman has a well-rounded roster ready to compete, and the urgency from the front office shows they expect nothing less. Related: David Adelman applauds Nuggets' offseason additions Related: Nuggets HC David Adelman breaks silence on Jonas Valanciunas trade
Associated Press
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Nuggets expect Jonas Valanciunas to be backup center amid speculation over NBA future
DENVER (AP) — A backup plan to bring in a backup center to spell Nikola Jokic no longer appears necessary. The Denver Nuggets expect Jonas Valanciunas to be with the team when the season starts amid speculation over his NBA future. Denver's trade with Sacramento to acquire the 6-foot-11 Valanciunas for Dario Saric became official last weekend. Leading up that, reports emerged of Valanciunas being courted by the Greek EuroLeague club team, Panathinaikos. It's led to a confusing situation given that Valanciunas still has two years remaining on his NBA deal that would pay him a total of more than $20 million. Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations Ben Tenzer attempted to tamp down any conjecture over Valanciunas' arrival during a news conference Friday that was set up to introduce Cam Johnson. 'There's been nothing but healthy conversations in terms of him honoring his contract and him excited to be a Nugget,' Tenzer said of Valanciunas. So, no concerns that Valanciunas might not be with the Nuggets to start the season? 'No concerns,' Tenzer said. The trade for the 33-year-old Valanciunas looks to be the icing on a productive offseason that saw the front-office tandem of Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace remodel the team. The moves were in the wake of a Game 7 loss to NBA champion Oklahoma City in the second round. The Nuggets also picked up Johnson in a deal that sent Michael Porter Jr. — a key contributor to their title run in 2023 — to Brooklyn. Denver added Bruce Brown, who was part of their championship run, and shooting guard/small forward Tim Hardaway Jr. Tenzer said they've have had productive talks with Valanciunas, who's slated to play for Lithuania at FIBA EuroBasket this summer. Someone from the Nuggets may even venture over there. 'Their plan is for him to get here sooner than later, but still working through that,' Wallace explained. 'We'll approach it at that time.' Valanciunas is coming off a season in which he split time between Washington and Sacramento. He averaged 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and two assists over 81 games. Denver is counting on him to give Jokic the occasional breather. The 30-year-old Jokic averaged a career-high 36.7 minutes per game last season. A three-time NBA MVP, Jokic turned in a historic season where became the first NBA center to average a triple-double — 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists. His vision and feel for the game could take Johnson's performance to another level. Johnson averaged 18.8 points for the Nets last season. 'His best ability is just understanding where he is in space and where his teammates are in space at all times,' Johnson said of Jokic. 'I find a spot, and there's a high chance that he's going to put the pass on time, on target.' As for where Johnson might live in the Mile High city, he and Porter have chatted about possibly swapping houses. 'I don't know if it will happen, but it's being discussed right now,' Johnson said. 'Obviously, when you get traded, everything's flying around, everything's moving. As the next couple of weeks wind down, we'll start to become a little bit more established in our new markets and figure all that stuff out.' He's already received a warm welcome — and not even in Denver, either. While the former Phoenix Suns forward was having breakfast in Arizona, a table of Nuggets fans recognized him and wished him luck. 'The reception has been incredible,' Johnson said. 'It has been really positive for me. Just a chance at winning is something that I really relish and something that I'll do everything in my power to contribute to.' ___ AP NBA:
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nuggets VP shares (likely) conclusive update about Nikola Jokić's backup
The revitalized NBA title contender Denver Nuggets thought they had finally acquired a competent backup center for Nikola Jokić when they reportedly traded for veteran big man Jonas Valančiūnas at the start of 2025 NBA free agency. However, it was later revealed that Greek EuroLeague club Panathinaikos B.C. had strongly courted Valančiūnas overseas, with the Lithuanian center seriously pondering ending his NBA career. The implication was that Valančiūnas wanted to finish his NBA career so he could be closer to his family in Europe. From there, it sounded like he was willing to surrender his NBA salary in full had the Nuggets granted him permission out of a contract that has two years of team control (and just under $20.4 million total) remaining. Advertisement Naturally, these developments caught the Nuggets off guard, who apparently had no idea Valančiūnas was considering leaving the NBA to play in Greece before making the trade. Ultimately, per NBA reporter Marc Stein, the Nuggets did not grant Valančiūnas's wishes. And this past Saturday, the Valančiūnas trade was finalized after Denver had finished shuffling around unrelated moving parts. As of Tuesday morning, it seems like an abject certainty that he will play in the 2025-2026 NBA season for Denver. That's at least according to Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations, Ben Tenzer, who was interviewed by Altitude Sports Radio on Tuesday. Tenzer not only didn't sound concerned about Panathinaikos ever really luring Valančiūnas over from Denver, but he also clarified that he expects the player they call "Big Val" to indeed play for the Nuggets: That sounds very encouraging and confident on the Nuggets' part. All's well that ends well, right? Advertisement Not necessarily. Maybe. Probably. Earlier this week, during a speaking event with Lithuanian basketball, Valančiūnas was weirdly cryptic about his professional future. Hmm: While I have no doubt that Valančiūnas is probably still somewhat upset about how this situation was resolved so far, this isn't necessarily him casting doubt on actually coming over to Denver and playing like a professional. He could have simply been declining to comment on it further until the conclusion of the upcoming EuroBasket tournament in late August and early September. Based on Tenzer's public comments here, it seems likely that Valančiūnas chose that path. I suppose we'll have full clarity soon enough. Well, not that soon, but you get the idea. Advertisement This article originally appeared on For The Win: Nuggets' Ben Tenzer shares definitive update about Jonas Valančiūnas situation
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New-Look Denver Nuggets Look Impressive After Four Key Additions
New-Look Denver Nuggets Look Impressive After Four Key Additions originally appeared on Fadeaway World. With Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets have an easy road to contention, but after this year's loss in the West Semifinals, it became clear that the franchise needed to make some major changes to keep up with the NBA elites. Fortunately, new GM Ben Tenzer has been hard at work making moves that the fans agree have reopened the Nuggets' title window. Advertisement In just the first few days of the offseason, the franchise has made notable improvements at several positions. The most important move so far was trading longtime Nuggets swingman, Michael Porter Jr., and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick to the Nets for Cam Johnson. They also signed Bruce Brown, traded Dario Saric for Jonas Valanciunas, and signed veteran sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr. In short, it's been a tremendous summer for the Nuggets, and they've improved in several areas as a team. With depth, star power, and positive leadership in the locker room, the Nuggets are poised to be highly competitive in the West. Plus, with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray at full strength, they will be heavy contenders to win their second NBA championship. After their latest signings, here is the starting lineup for the new-look Nuggets and a glimpse into what will likely be one of the West's most competitive teams next season. Point Guards: Jamal Murray, Jalen Pickett Shooting Guards: Tim Hardaway Jr., Christian Braun, Julian Strawther Small Forwards: Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, Hunter Tyson Power Forwards: Aaron Gordon, Peyton Watson, Zeke Nnaji Centers: Nikola Jokic, Jonas Valanciunas, DaRon Holmes The Starters The Nuggets were able to make significant upgrades while keeping their main core intact (Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon). After winning a championship in 2023, that trio proved that they could beat anyone, and they'll be feeling good about their chances to win it all next year. Advertisement At 28 years old, Jamal Murray is only just hitting his prime, and the Nuggets have never lost faith in his potential with Nikola Jokic. Since winning the title in 2023, the duo has been inseparable, and Murray has delivered for them time and time again in high-pressure situations. While his three-point shooting took a dip last season, his versatile skillset should remain highly effective for the Nuggets in the 2024-25 campaign. At shooting guard, the Nuggets could go with Christian Braun, who has taken over the position ever since the departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He played his role well enough for the Nuggets last season with averages of 15.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game last season but they have more options now after the Tim Hardaway Jr. trade. If the Nuggets want more shooting or instant offense, they could choose to give him the start over Braun and Brown. There's also Cam Johnson, who is going to be the team's small forward next season. He isn't the scorer that Michael Porter Jr. is, but his game might be a better fit. Besides being a bit more well-rounded, Cam is more of a catch-and-shoot player than someone like MPJ, who frequently spends possessions trying to score in isolation. With Johnson, it's easy to see the ball moving more, which would result in better shots for everyone and a more efficient offense overall. In the frontcourt, Aaron Gordon played a major role in the Nuggets' 2023 playoff run. As their primary power forward, he's on the frontlines with Nikola Jokic, and his explosive play down low helps apply pressure against the opposing frontcourt. In 51 games for the Nuggets last season, he averaged 14.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game on 53.1% shooting. As it stands, he's under contract for the next four years with an annual salary of $30+ million. Advertisement As a 2x MVP, 7x All-Star, and 1x champion, it's no mystery that Nikola Jokic is the star of the show in Denver. At 30 years old, Jokic is expected to deliver another MVP-caliber performance next season, and that's after he averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game in the 2024-25 campaign. With his scoring, playmaking, and elite passing ability, we already know that the Joker is the best player in the game right now, and with his new roster, he may have enough to take them on another title run. The Bench The Nuggets have one of the deepest and star-studded starting lineups in the NBA, but they have historically struggled with Jokic off the floor. In the past, the non-Jokic minutes have been deadly for the Nuggets, and if they want any hope of winning the title next year, they'll need to find a way to stay competitive when their star big man is not on the floor. Fortunately, they still have some of their trusted bench players, like Payton Watson, and potentially Christian Braun (if Hardaway starts over him). They'll also have Bruce Brown back, a two-way swingman who helped the Nuggets win the title in 2023. He'll bring versatility on both ends of the floor for Denver, along with key championship experience. Advertisement Arguably, the most important bench addition is Jonas Valanciunas, a traditional big man who can hold down the paint when Jokic is off the floor. With averages of 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game last season, he's capable of putting up solid numbers, and he can help keep the Nuggets' defense afloat for the second unit. Of course, after losing Russell Westbrook, critics might say the Nuggets lost a key piece off the bench, but the combination of Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Peyton Watson should more than make up for Westbrook's departure. At the very least, it should eliminate any problems of depth for the Nuggets. As the last line of defense, coach Adelman will also have three young guys ready to step up at any time: Jalen Pickett, Zeke Nnaji, and Hunter Tyson. They aren't expected to play a major role in Denver, but they could see some time off the bench in certain matchups throughout the season. Amazing Summer For The Nuggets With the NBA draft now over and the Nuggets out of cap space, most experts agree that they are probably done making moves for now. After back-to-back failed seasons, new GM Ben Tenzer has taken action to put his team in title contention. Advertisement As long as they have Nikola Jokic, the franchise will always be somewhat relevant, but with this revamped roster, they are poised to return to where they were in the 2022-23 season, when they made their first and only run to the championship. Ultimately, only time will tell what results the Nuggets get, but after finishing fourth in the West last season, they knew changes had to be made in order to maximize their title chances. Now, all that's left is for the team to come together and rally behind Nikola Jokic so he can lead them to the promised land once again. Related: Nuggets Owner Admits There Is A "Nightmare" Scenario Where They Are Forced To Trade Nikola Jokic This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nuggets reunite with Timberwolves exec as part of front-office overhaul
The post Nuggets reunite with Timberwolves exec as part of front-office overhaul appeared first on ClutchPoints. Less than three days before the 2025 NBA Draft is set to commence, the Denver Nuggets finally have a front-office structure officially in place. The organization is promoting Ben Tenzer to executive vice president of basketball operations and bringing in Jon Wallace to serve as executive vice president of player personnel, per ESPN's Shams Charania. They will both report to team president Josh Kroenke. Advertisement Although a formal declaration has not been made, it seems as if both men will share general manager duties, per Altitude Sports' Vic Lombardi. Wallace spent three and a half years with the Nuggets as a basketball operations associate and scouting coordinator before working as the Minnesota Timberwolves' director of player personnel and GM of the G League Iowa Wolves. He does not have much time to reflect on this reunion, as Denver quickly prepares for a crucial offseason. Will the Nuggets make the necessary upgrades? Following Kroenke's decision to fire both GM Calvin Booth and head coach Michael Malone near the end of the regular season, it is essential that the Nuggets move through this summer with a clear sense of direction and urgency. Considering how long it took to organize this management structure, and the possible murkiness surrounding its set-up, fans will understandably refrain from celebrating at this time. However, Denver can quickly win over the masses by acing the upcoming NBA Draft and free agency period. While it is true that the Nuggets do not presently own any picks heading into Wednesday's first round, they can still make a splash during the two-day event. The team desperately needs depth, especially since Russell Westbrook is potentially departing in free agency. The reshaped front office could attempt to acquire draft capital via a trade. Advertisement With Nikola Jokic now past the age of 30, there is overwhelming pressure on Denver to bolster its roster and contend for another NBA title. Although the squad came within one win of eliminating the eventual champions in the playoffs this year, the prevailing opinion is that the Nuggets require a boost in order to return to the top. Hence, changes are expected this offseason. And now we apparently know who will be charged with carrying out those changes. Related: Nuggets' Dario Saric makes $5.4 million contract decision ahead of free agency
