The Denver Nuggets just made a couple of smart moves this offseason to beef up their bench for the 2025-26 season. They snagged veteran center Jonas Valančiūnas from the Sacramento Kings for Dario Šarić, who took up his $5.4 million player option.

This deal brings some needed size and know-how behind Nikola Jokić.Valančiūnas is known for being physical and grabbing boards. Last season in New Orleans, before the trade to Sacramento, he put up 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Plus, he shot almost 59% from the field and is great finishing around the basket.

These are aspects Denver didn’t get from Šarić, who barely played last season.Jonas gives the Nuggets a solid option off the bench who can soak up minutes, protect the paint, and hold down the second unit when Jokic is resting. He can play short bursts or start if needed, making this trade a big win for Denver’s frontcourt depth.

Besides getting stronger at center, the Nuggets also added some scoring on the outside by signing Tim Hardaway Jr. to a one-year deal for the minimum. This signing didn’t make huge waves, but it could be a steal. Hardaway Jr. scored 11.0 points per game last season with Detroit, hitting 36.8% of his three-pointers while starting 77 games.He has starting experience and can hit shots from deep, which will make him useful off the bench. With Jokic running the show and spacing the floor, Hardaway’s ability to catch and shoot fits perfectly with Denver’s offense. He also brings veteran leadership, playoff experience, and a pro attitude to the locker room, and he can score instantly with his shooting and off-ball movement.

All in all, these moves show Denver is serious about strengthening their bench and show how they are one of the clear winners of the offseason and they still might have more moves to come. These additions should also help Jokic and Jamal Murray save energy for the end of the season, which was a problem last year. As Nuggets fans, we have a good reason to be excited, the team isn’t just staying in the mix, they’re getting better.