Feb 22, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) signals to teammates during the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
The Denver Nuggets are trying to squeeze every last championship-caliber season out of the Nikola Jokic era, and that means everyone could be on the chopping block. Denver has already made major changes since its 2023 championship, and the addition of DeMar DeRozan gives the Nuggets a proven scorer and veteran leader.
DeRozan averaged 18.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and 4.1 APG last season and reportedly joined Denver on a one-year, $3.9 million deal in pursuit of the championship that has escaped him throughout his career.
But the Nuggets have another problem: money. Lots of it.
Christian Braun is a good player; let’s make that clear, but Denver has to ask whether he is so good that he should be considered untouchable while the franchise needs a defensive stopper that can change a playoff series.
That brings us to Herb Jones.
Proposed Trade Details
Denver Nuggets Receive: Herb Jones, 2033 first-round pick
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Christian Braun
It would be a bold move, since Jones isn’t a great floor-spacer. But Denver might have to consider it when they have the best player on the planet and a shrinking window to build the perfect supporting cast around him.
Herb Jones Could Give Denver The Defender It Has Been Missing
Christian Braun brings energy and legitimate two-way value, but Herb Jones is a different level of defensive player. Jones is the guy you put on the opposing team’s most dangerous perimeter scorer, and he does an elite job.
That distinction matters enormously for Denver. The Nuggets don’t need another player to take shots away from Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, or now DeMar DeRozan.
They need someone capable of making life miserable for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant, or whichever superstar Denver has to survive against in May.
At 6’7″ with tremendous length and the ability to defend multiple positions, Jones can disrupt an offense without needing the ball for a single second. He posted 8.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.6 SPG, and 0.5 BPG on 38.3% FG, 30.9% 3-PT FG, and 80.6% FT over 56 games last season.
Clearly, Jones’ numbers took a hefty dip. But he has held a career 113.7 defensive rating and was an All-NBA Defensive First Team member in 2023-24 while finishing 5th in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
And Denver knows how valuable that can be. The Nuggets’ championship team had Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope doing a lot of the dirty work around their stars. Jones would give Denver something even more specialized: a true defensive menace.
Braun is still only 25 and has developed into a quality NBA starter, averaging 12.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 0.3 BPG on 51.9% FG, 30.1% 3-PT FG, and 78.2% FT over 44 games last season.
But this isn’t about pretending Braun isn’t valuable. Denver may have a chance to exchange a very good complementary player for a player whose specific skill set could become invaluable when the postseason arrives.
Christian Braun Is Good, But Is He Untouchable At This Price?
Christian Braun has earned plenty of respect. He was part of the 2023 championship team and has developed from a rookie role player into someone the Nuggets can trust with major minutes.
There is a lot to like about his game at 25 years old.
But Denver’s roster construction is very complicated, particularly after the organization moved Peyton Watson in a multi-team deal. The Nuggets have already committed significant money to their core, and recent criticism around their roster management is a main reason why they haven’t reached the heights of the 2023 season.
That’s why Braun shouldn’t be treated like a franchise cornerstone simply because he’s young and popular. The Nuggets could use a better defender along with a first-round pick.
There is also the playoff question. Braun’s limitations can become more noticeable when the game slows down. He only averaged 8.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, and 0.8 BPG on 41.7% FG and 42.9% 3-PT FG.
In Denver’s recent first-round series against Minnesota, his offensive production fluctuated dramatically, including a three-point performance (1-4 FG) in the season-ending Game 6 loss.
The Pelicans Get Younger While Denver Goes All-In On Jokic
From New Orleans’ perspective, this would be about accepting reality and taking a swing on a younger player who can grow with the next version of the franchise. The Pelicans have spent years wasting time, and they could use a rebuilding figure.
Braun would give them a 25-year-old wing who has already played meaningful postseason basketball and knows what a championship locker room looks like. At 25, he has time to grow and can be more of an offensive threat than Jones moving forward.
And for Denver, the timing makes sense. Jokic is not getting younger, and the Nuggets can’t afford to spend the next three years patiently waiting to see whether every young player develops into his absolute ceiling.
The three-time MVP is still playing at a level where Denver should be thinking about championships, after averaging 27.7 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 10.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 0.8 BPG last season while finishing 2nd in the MVP race.
The addition of DeRozan makes that even clearer. Denver is bringing in a 37-year-old, six-time All-Star who remains productive but is chasing his first ring after 17 NBA seasons. Clearly, Denver is in win-now mode.
A potential lineup featuring Murray, Herb Jones, DeRozan, Gordon, and Jokic would have some issues, particularly about spacing, but it would also be an incredibly difficult group to play against.
Jones could handle the defensive assignments. Gordon could continue doing everything. DeRozan could provide another closer and mid-range scorer. Jokic and Murray would be the dominant offensive duo.
The Nuggets shouldn’t trade Christian Braun just to make a trade. But if Herb Jones is genuinely available, Denver should seriously consider it. Braun is good, but Herb Jones might be exactly what this particular version of the Nuggets is missing.
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