Mar 24, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Mar 24, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Denver Nuggets have got themselves into a salary bind this offseason, and they're still the only team in the NBA to be over the dreaded second apron threshold. One of the reasons for that is Christian Braun's massive five-year, $125 million contract kicking in at $21.5 million this year. If the Nuggets are still over the second apron threshold as the season progresses, Braun could be an option to be dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies to save the team luxury tax penalties, and it also offers them an out in case he doesn't return to form.
Braun is far from a certainty, and the Nuggets have never been a team to pay large sums in penalties. At $3.15 million over the second apron, they're staring at an ~$75 million tax bill. That's $17 million more than they've paid in the Nikola Jokic era, combined. So something has to give. Enter the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies can take on Braun's contract easily
The hypothetical trade idea is a thought from salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan on his Third Apron Podcast, in which he mentions the large trade exception available to "absorb" large contracts. Braun's fits the bill. He proposes the following idea, which would give the Nuggets solid backcourt help, a near-term draft pick, and salary relief. The Nuggets should definitely file this idea in their back pocket.
Grizzlies receive: Christian Braun and the newly acquired 2031 unprotected first-round draft pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers
Nuggets receive: Ty Jerome, and the lessor of the Grizzlies' 2027 first-round picks
The Nuggets should do the trade if they can also deal Zeke Nnaji
The Nuggets would also save $12.3 million against the cap by completing the trade. And if they played their cards right with Zeke Nnaji and traded him along with the second-round picks they've acquired this offseason, they'd have saved $19.7 million against the cap, which would actually bring them under the luxury tax for the second season in a row. That would reset the "repeater tax" that has kicked in for the Nuggets, which is drastically driving up their tax bill. It would offer flexibility while still in Jokic's prime championship window.
Plus, the Nuggets' having a first-round pick in 2027 would be more ideal than a 2031 pick, when Jokic and the Nuggets window is long past open.
Jerome works off the bench as the sixth man because of DeMar DeRozan
From a roster standpoint, this trade actually works out well for the Nuggets, too. Ty Jerome is just one year removed from finishing third in the Sixth Man of the Year Award voting with the Cavs. Jerome only played 15 games in an injury-shortened season last year with the Grizzlies, but he started all 15 games, and he averaged 19.7 points on 42.0% shooting from three in just 22.6 minutes per game. He lit it up when he was on the floor. And he's a career 38.6% shooter from beyond the arc. Perfect for the Nuggets.
And the Nuggets just so happen to have 17-year veteran DeMar DeRozan to step back into the starting lineup, where he could flourish in the Nuggets' offense. Realistically, it's a great outcome for the Nuggets, who would solve their cap issue and still compete. They should definitely consider this trade idea.
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