Exactly as predicted, the Denver Nuggets have officially signed Ryan Nembhard. The guard gets a two-way contract after a rollercoaster offseason. He chose the Nuggets over several interested teams after the former Dallas Mavericks playmaker bounced from team to team this year alone. However, while Denver bolstered their backcourt depth, the team is at a familiar crossroads: rebuilding around Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
Finalizing the transaction created an immediate roster conflict. The Nuggets had all three two-way spots filled. To finalize the Ryan Nembhard signing, two-way guard and fan favorite KJ Simpson could be facing free agency just as training camp begins.
NBA insider Marc Stein broke down the mechanics of Nembhard’s arrival on social media, reporting, “After receiving multiple two-way offers, Ryan Nembhard has chosen to sign with Denver, which was seen as the leader in the clubhouse from the jump. The Nuggets must waive one of their three current two-ways to formally add Nembhard and are expected to part ways with KJ Simpson.”
ESPN’s Shams Charania later confirmed that the two-way deal was finalized as Denver’s training camp kicked off. KJ Simpson was waived to free up the roster spot for the new guard, bringing an end to Ryan Nembhard’s dramatic first offseason.
The Mavs traded him to the Atlanta Hawks who sent him to the Charlotte Hornets. But they waived him immediately with multiple reports indicating the Nuggets were in the wings to swoop him once he cleared waivers.
Nembhard, the younger brother of Indiana Pacers starting guard Andrew Nembhard, spent his rookie 2025–26 season with the Dallas Mavericks, where he appeared in 60 games and had 27 starts. He averaged 6.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 19.5 minutes per game.
The 23-year-old guard turned heads last season by dishing out 23 assists in an April 12 victory against the Chicago Bulls, setting a Mavericks rookie record for assists in a game. Nembhard also delivered a memorable 28-point, 10-assist double-double against the Nuggets in December 2025.
That was probably when the team saw his dynamic playmaking ability that led the front office to make a move once he was a free agent.
Denver Nuggets’ training camp gets awkward twist
Nuggets fans and analysts have already been disappointed in the team’s failure to maximize the roster around Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon’s championship contention. After they traded Peyton Watson, the two-way contract situation was another head-scratcher.
The decision to waive KJ Simpson presents an awkward logistical and emotional situation for the franchise. The 24-year-old guard was a celebrated March Madness star for the University of Colorado Buffaloes before he was selected by the Hornets in the second round of the 2024 draft.
He signed a two-way contract with Denver only in February. Simpson, who attended the Nuggets’ championship parade as a fan in 2023, appeared in six games for Denver last season and was eager to continue his development with the organization.
Making matters more delicate, the roster move occurred while the Nuggets were holding their official training camp on the CU Boulder campus, Simpson’s alma mater, just days ahead of an October preseason contest against the Utah Jazz at CU’s Events Center.
Under NBA rules, teams are limited to three two-way contracts, which allow players to move between the NBA roster and the G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold, without impacting the salary cap.
With Nembhard taking the final slot, Denver’s remaining two-way positions are held by rookie second-round pick Bryce Hopkins and third-year wing Cam Whitmore. Whitmore, who has averaged 10.5 points over three NBA seasons, already proved why the Nuggets would hang on to him early in training camp.
Denver head coach David Adelman highlighted Whitmore’s potential following the first day of practices in Boulder, noting:
“The thing about Cam is that he’s got to simplify himself. He’s got to drive the ball to the basket. He’s got to pick up defensively. His athletic profile is incredible. There’s a reason this guy was picked high. But there’s a long way to go. Athletic talent is not enough, but today was a good day for Cam. If he stays with it, he’s consistent, then I think that things could happen for him.”
Veteran forward Aaron Gordon echoed Adelman’s praise for Whitmore, adding, “Cam’s a very good player. He’s big, strong, and he’s talented. He’s gonna be a good addition, and I hope that he sticks.“
While Simpson’s immediate future remains uncertain as he determines whether to join Grand Rapids or pursue opportunities elsewhere, Nembhard’s addition gives Denver an elite distributor with a 3.7 assist-to-turnover ratio to anchor their backcourt depth chart.