Nuggets Make Their Next Move After Acquiring Spencer Jones Despite Major Second Apron Trouble

The Denver Nuggets are currently in a sticky situation. After a disappointing first-round exit in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, they hoped to improve their roster. However, after the signing of Spencer Jones for $12 million, the Nuggets are now in the second apron.

Given the team's current limitations, they can only do so much during the offseason. Despite their dilemma, Denver secured a deal with tenured NBA coach Dave Joerger, as he agreed to become the team's lead assistant coach.

"Longtime NBA coach Dave Joerger has agreed on a deal to become the lead assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets on head coach David Adelman's staff," NBA insider Shams Charania reported on X.

There's a narrative speculating that the Oklahoma City Thunder deliberately backed the Nuggets into a corner. Before signing Jones, the Thunder initially offered him the same deal. Clearly scared of losing him, Denver was "forced" to match the offer.

The Nuggets are currently the only team in the second apron this offseason. Charania also reported that Denver could shed some contracts via trades. Ideally, draft picks would be the way to go, so they could avoid paying for any unnecessary contracts.

However, given their tricky circumstances, it's possible the Nuggets could enter the 2026-27 season with almost the same roster as last season. Only this time around, they'll be facing financial penalties while trying to win with a lineup that failed to make a deep playoff run.

Is Nikola Jokic's Nuggets Future in Jeopardy?

It appears that the Denver Nuggets' fate was predicted last season in an interview with the team's Vice Chairman, Josh Kroenke.

During a press conference last year, Kroenke talked about how the Nuggets aren't scared to reach the second apron. However, he also noted that if it did happen, the worst-case scenario might be to trade Nikola Jokic.

"I think for us as an organization, going into that second apron isn't something necessarily that we're scared of," Kroenke stated. "I think that there are rules around it that we need to be very careful of with our injury history. The wrong person gets injured, and very quickly you're into a scenario that I never want to contemplate, and that's trading (Nikola Jokic)."

Now that the Nuggets are in the second apron, Kroenke could be forced to make a difficult decision this summer. Jokic has an upcoming salary worth $59.03 million. Shedding his contract would easily pull the Nuggets out of the second apron.

However, based on other recent reports, that scenario seems unlikely. Joker has previously expressed his desire to remain a Nugget.

If anything, they could let go of Jamal Murray, who has an upcoming $50.1 million salary. Murray's pay is the closest to Jokic's. But we're also not entirely sure if Denver wants to break up their duo.

For now, everything remains to be seen. The Nuggets have yet to discuss what they plan to do to get out of the sticky situation.