The Denver Nuggets handled one of the only pieces of remaining business before the season tips off, with Shams Charania of ESPN reporting that the Nuggets have come to terms with Christian Braun on a 5 year, $125 million extension.
Braun is a key member of both Denver’s offense and defense, with his three-point shooting and cuts to the basket helping to fuel their Jokic-led scoring attack while his wing defense is a crucial aspect for getting playoff stops. $25 million in average annual value puts him just ahead of what the Portland Trail Blazers just paid their rookie-contracts on extensions. The Blazers paid 4/$82 million for Toumani Camara which is 20.5 AAV, and 4/$90 million for Shaedon Sharpe which is $22.5 AAV. Neither of those players is the two-way player that Braun is for Denver, and the Nuggets absolutely need all his gifts to make their approach work. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope left Denver last offseason for a 3 year, $66 million contract with Orlando, and that $22 million AAV is essentially what Braun is slotting into after proving he fill a similar role in the starting unit for Denver. Braun posted career highs last year in points per game (16.4), three-point percentage (39.7%) and two-point percentage (64.8%), and is a key contributor who will soon be paid what he is worth.
Forward Peyton Watson is also up for an extension, but with his playing time as a reserve still not set in stone, neither side may want to lock in years and dollars until that role is fleshed out under the current coaching staff and this may see him hit Restricted Free Agency next offseason. Regardless, Denver now has all of its starters under contract for this year and next year as they chase another ring in the Nikola Jokic era.
