Nuggets trade pick to West champ, will select in NBA Draft on Wednesday

On paper the Denver Nuggets took Tarris Reed Jr. with the No. 26 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. In reality they traded the selection at the last moment to the San Antonio Spurs for No. 35 and two future second-round picks.

It’s helpful for the Nuggets, whose draft targets came off the board just before they were on the clock. On top of that Denver had this year’s second and just one in the future due to the dumping of future picks Calvin Booth did to the cupboard. It’s basically all the second rounders Denver used to move up and get DaRon Holmes II in 2024, or the same amount it took to dump one year of Reggie Jackson’s contract.

To get some of those resources back to help grease future wheels is huge. Consider that helpful Thunder wing Aaron Wiggins was dealt to the Hawks earlier this week for two second rounders. They may help the Nuggets get a pick or facilitate a salary dump, which wouldn’t be as fun for the basketball team but is being telegraphed by the organization as they self-impose a dollar limit they need to get under so that they can bring back the restricted free agent Peyton Watson.

Reed was among the names that was connected to Denver pre-draft. But many Nuggets targets were gone, leaving a list of just a few names folks had connected to the Nuggets in the lead up to the NBA Draft: Chris Cenac Jr., Koa Peat, Joshua Jefferson, Isaiah Evans and Tarris Reed Jr.

This was supposed to be the first draft pick for co-GMs Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace, who took over last summer but Denver didn’t have a pick in either round. We’ll have to wait another 24 hours.

The Nuggets got second round picks in 2028 via the Wolves and 2031 via the Kings back in the deal.

What’s next for the Nuggets?

Denver has the No. 35 and No. 49 picks in the NBA Draft’s second round on Wednesday. Look for them to sign some undrafted free agents in the next 48 or so hours as well — the Nuggets got to work there last year filling out their two-way slots.

Some of the names Denver was connected to late in the first could fall to them with their early second rounder. That rookie will also now be cheaper, an important thing for the Nuggets, who are enthralled with saving money this summer.