After $24M Free Agency Move, Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets Make Key Front Bench Boost

The real fun starts now. The lads had been counting down to Free Agency like it was Christmas morning. After a season full of hits and heartbreak, Denver face-planted—hard. And let’s be real, a basic roster reshuffle won’t cut it. They need bold moves. Fresh faces. Something wild enough to shake the whole locker room awake. Nuggets fans made their frustrations loud and clear. But guess what? The front office actually listened. With David Adelman now backed fully, the mission is simple: go get that second ring—and fast.

Let’s be honest—Nikola Jokić’s MVP chase was the only real spark in an otherwise blah season. Maybe Michael Malone’s exit made a little noise too, but the Nuggets would rather sweep that under the rug. His departure didn’t fix the mess—it just pointed to how deep it ran. Still, it gave fans one thing: a starting point. Now, at least, there’s something to build from. And speaking of building, Denver’s added a new piece to the puzzle—JJ Barea, the scrappy 2011 NBA champ with the Mavs.

“JJ Barea, a 2011 NBA champion with the Dallas Mavericks, has agreed to join the Denver Nuggets as an assistant coach under David Adelman, sources tell ESPN. Barea will be on the front of the Nuggets coaching bench,” wrote Shams Charania on X. If you thought that was the end of it, then you’re funnily mistaken.

“Just In: Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman will add Rodney Billups as an assistant coach, Klutch Sports Group agent Andy Miller told @hoopshype. Billups was a scout for the Brooklyn Nets this season. Before that, he was an assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers,” wrote Senior NBA insider Michael Scotto.

Billups once a pro scout, later jumped into a player development role. But it was his time with the Blazers that really made people take notice. He focused on defense and player growth, working under his brother’s staff. Sure, people threw around nepotism claims, especially with Portland struggling big time. They had a .329 win rate and missed the playoffs every year. Still, Blazers insiders stood by him. They called him “an incredible teacher” with a sharp basketball brain. They even leaned on him for staffing and development calls.

All of this coming so early into the off-season is a sure shot of a team ready to take a shot at the championship. Nikola Jokic isn’t getting any younger. But they realized it too, and that’s pretty much what got them to splurge as little as just $24 mil on trades that might be game-changing.

Nuggets going for Cam Johnson and Bruce Brown show their strides forward

The Denver Nuggets are projected to be right around the second apron, but likely not over it. That’s not the worst thing in the world- it’s just that they have to do their business more stringently. But the masterclass they pulled, for a like-for-like player for Michael Porter Jr. – wow.

Cam Johnson might not be flashy, but he’s exactly the kind of glue guy Denver needs. He guards multiple positions, hits 39% from deep for his career, and doesn’t mess with Jokic’s rhythm—he enhances it. His contract’s also a breath of fresh financial air: two years, $42 million, compared to Michael Porter Jr.’s due $79 million luxury-tax landmine. And let’s not forget availability—Johnson showed up for 57 games last season without any back drama. Meanwhile, Porter’s been more day-to-day than your morning coffee. In short? Johnson gives you defense, spacing, and peace of mind. That ain’t even the end of it, though.

Bruce Brown is back in Denver—and on a bargain. The Nuggets’ 2023 title hero has agreed to a one-year veteran minimum deal, per The Denver Post. Brown, who turns 29 in August, famously scored the go-ahead bucket in Game 5 of the Finals, sealing Denver’s first-ever championship. He cashed in the following summer with a two-year, $45 million deal from Indiana, but bounced around quickly—traded to Toronto in 2024, then to New Orleans. Now, with that contract set to expire, Brown returns to where he made history. Call it a reunion. Or maybe just some unfinished business. Either way, the fans are in for a treat this season.

You know what the funny thing is? The off-season has barely reached a midpoint. We still don’t know how a lot of pending deals might shape up in the coming months. But these Nuggets’ moves make their stance clear as day – they’re not in the business to get deep-fried every game. It’s their turn to make a chicken out of their opponents.