The Denver Nuggets’ path to retooling their roster just became significantly more complicated.
As teams across the NBA increasingly rely on future first-round draft picks as key sweeteners in major trades, a proposed rule change could seriously limit the Nuggets’ ability to acquire those assets this summer and beyond. The league’s so-called “3,2,1” draft proposal is scheduled for a vote among owners on May 28, and according to reports, front offices are already bracing for a noticeable drop in the availability of future first-round picks being moved for star players.
For a franchise like the Nuggets, who are staring down a challenging offseason, this development lands as particularly unwelcome news.
Limited Draft Capital and a Blocked Rebuild Path
Denver currently holds just two future second-round picks and four future first-round picks. Critically, the Nuggets do not control any of those first-round selections, meaning they cannot freely trade them away. This lack of movable draft capital effectively eliminates the possibility of a full-scale rebuild modeled after the San Antonio Spurs’ recent strategy.
The Spurs famously accumulated high-value assets through consecutive top-five selections, landing Victor Wembanyama (No. 1), Stephon Castle (No. 4), and Dylan Harper (No. 2) in three straight drafts. That level of sustained lottery success helped accelerate their contention window. However, the new proposal includes a rule preventing any team from having three top-five picks in three consecutive years.
While the rule aims to promote greater parity, it could have the side effect of making teams even more hesitant to part with future first-round picks—especially those with a realistic chance of landing in the top five. If a projected high pick risks being bumped out of the top five due to this restriction, its trade value could drop, further tightening the market for draft capital.
A Precarious Offseason Situation
The Nuggets are already operating with significant constraints. They lack the salary cap flexibility to make major splashes in free agency, and their limited draft assets—partly the result of previous aggressive moves by former front office leadership—leave them with few avenues to improve the roster organically.
One immediate priority is retaining forward Peyton Watson. However, bringing him back is expected to push Denver over the second apron, triggering harsh luxury tax penalties and roster restrictions. To create breathing room, a trade appears likely before the new season begins.
Names already surfacing in speculation include Cam Johnson, whose expiring contract could be a useful piece in negotiations. More dramatically, discussions have even touched on the possibility of moving Jamal Murray if the return package is strong enough. Acquiring future draft picks in today’s environment may require parting with high-level talent, a painful but potentially necessary step for long-term flexibility.
The Bigger Picture
The combination of the impending draft rule changes and Denver’s self-inflicted shortage of assets creates a narrow path forward. General manager Calvin Booth and the front office must navigate this summer with precision—balancing the desire to stay competitive around Nikola Jokić while addressing the long-term health of the franchise.
What was already going to be a difficult retooling process has now become even more constrained. As the NBA’s proposed rules potentially reshape how teams build through the draft, the Nuggets may find themselves forced into tough, high-stakes decisions sooner than expected.
The May 28 owners’ vote could mark the beginning of a new era in NBA roster construction—and for Denver, it might close off one of the few remaining doors they hoped to walk through.