Denver Expands Braun's Role, Adds Nembhard on Two-Way Deal
Denver coach David Adelman wants Christian Braun to share ball-handling duties with Jamal Murray rather than the team adding outside help. Braun, entering the first season of a five-year, $125MM extension, is aiming to rebound after an ankle injury restricted him to 44 games in 2025/26. Spencer Jones sat out Friday's scrimmage with a minor hamstring issue, and two-way signee Ryan Nembhard said he was drawn to Denver's winning culture.
Denver's coaching staff initially sought extra ball-handling after a first-round playoff exit, but now wants Braun to ease Murray's burden. Braun, 25, is in year one of a five-year, $125MM rookie-scale extension. An ankle injury limited him to 44 games in 2025/26. He said taking pressure off Murray could help Murray's legs late in playoff games.
Spencer Jones missed Friday's scrimmage with a minor hamstring issue; Adelman favored caution. Ryan Nembhard signed a two-way deal Wednesday. He previously starred at Ball Arena with Creighton and as a Mavericks rookie. KJ Simpson was waived to open a roster spot, prompting Cameron Johnson's sympathetic comments. Chris Dempsey called Braun Denver's player with most to prove and Alpha Diallo its most underrated addition.
Count words. First para: Denver's(1) coaching(2) staff(3) initially(4) sought(5) extra(6) ball-handling(7) after(8) a(9) first-round(10) playoff(11) exit,(12) but(13) now(14) wants(15) Braun(16) to(17) ease(18) Murray's(19) burden.(20) Braun,(21) 25,(22) is(23) in(24) year(25) one(26) of(27) a(28) five-year,(29) $125MM(30) rookie-scale(31) extension.(32) An(33) ankle(34) injury(35) limited(36) him(37) to(38) 44(39) games(40) in(41) 2025/26.(42) He(43) said(44) taking(45) pressure(46) off(47) Murray(48) could(49) help(50) Murray's(51) legs(52) late(53) in(54) playoff(55) games.(56) Second: Spencer(57) Jones(58) missed(59) Friday's(60) scrimmage(61) with(62) a(63) minor(64) hamstring(65) issue;(66) Adelman(67) favored(
Denver's expanded role for Braun could affect teammates, coaches, and fans by changing how the offense runs and how much energy Murray has late in games. Nembhard's two-way chance may boost his career and give Denver roster flexibility. Simpson's release shows how quickly roster moves can disrupt a player's livelihood. Fans and local businesses tied to the Nuggets may feel the effects if these choices improve or weaken the team's competitiveness. Count: Denver's1 expanded2 role3 for4 Braun5 could6 affect7 teammates,8 coaches,9 and10 fans11 by12 changing13 how14 the15 offense16 runs17 and18 how19 much20 energy21 Murray22 has23 late24 in25 games.26 Nembhard's27 two-way28 chance29 may30 boost31 his32 career33 and34 give35 Denver36 roster37 flexibility.38 Simpson's39 release40 shows41 how42 quickly43 roster44 moves45 can46 disrupt47 a48 player's49 livelihood.50 Fans51 and52 local53 businesses54 tied55 to56 the57 Nuggets58 may59 feel60 the61 effects62 if63 these64 choices65 improve66 or67