The Denver Nuggets have faced criticism for losing Peyton Watson in free agency this summer, but John Hollinger of The Athletic believes the team's front office handled the situation well. Past roster missteps made it challenging for the Nuggets to re-sign Watson without incurring a significant luxury tax bill. Hollinger appreciates the Nuggets' acquisition of the Cavaliers’ 2031 first-round pick in the sign-and-trade deal that sent the restricted free agent to Cleveland. This move allows Denver to potentially trade a valuable “most favorable” 2031 pick, which was previously restricted by the Stepien rule preventing them from trading their own first-rounder in that year.
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In addition to the Nuggets, Hollinger also commends some less-publicized offseason moves, including adjustments by the Pistons and backcourt additions for the Rockets.
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report analyzed which NBA teams have the worst salary cap situations looking ahead to 2026/27 and beyond. He ranks the Nuggets at the top of this list, followed by the Magic, Clippers, Lakers, and Cavaliers, noting that limited draft capital restricts teams' options for shedding unfavorable contracts.
Regarding global basketball, EuroLeague CEO Chus Bueno informed Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic that the EuroLeague has yet to receive a formal proposal from the NBA concerning a potential collaboration or merger. Bueno expressed that he and the EuroLeague's team owners would welcome a definitive proposal and are open to evaluating it thoroughly. He emphasized that collaboration between the EuroLeague and NBA could enhance the value of basketball in Europe.
Additionally, Joey Buss and Jesse Buss have an exclusive window until the end of November to negotiate the purchase of the French team ASVEL from former NBA star Tony Parker, as reported by Aris Barkas of Eurohoops. This follows previous reports in August about the Buss brothers seeking to invest in ASVEL amidst the team’s financial challenges this year.
Lastly, an article in The Houston Chronicle by Varun Shankar highlights the G League as a developmental platform for NBA executives. It showcases several young executives who have advanced to general manager roles within the NBA G League.