Aaron Gordon has agreed to a four-year, $133 million extension with the Denver Nuggets, in line with ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The deal represents a worthwhile compromise on either side. It had beforehand been reported that Gordon wished his most doable extension, which might have come out to round $150 million over 4 years. The associated fee-conscious Nuggets did not need to go fairly to this point. As a substitute, Gordon will choose into the ultimate 12 months of his present contract and make $23.8 million for the 2025-26 marketing campaign after which earn his most doable wage within the three seasons thereafter to get to $133 million in whole.
Gordon, 29, is getting into his eleventh season within the NBA. Final season, he averaged 13.9 factors and 6.5 rebounds per recreation whereas taking pictures 55.6 % from the sector.
The Nuggets now have their high 4 gamers locked in for at the least three extra years. Jamal Murray additionally earned a long-term extension this offseason, and Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. have been already locked up by way of the 2026-27 seasons. Nonetheless, the Nuggets did lose beginning taking pictures guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to free company when he signed with the Orlando Magic.
Letting Caldwell-Pope go away was a calculated monetary determination on Denver’s half. By dropping him, the Nuggets have been capable of keep away from the second apron this season. Retaining Gordon at his below-market 2025-26 participant choice wage may give them a path to doing so once more subsequent season.
Whereas each workforce will strategy the second apron in a different way, the foundations punish groups most severely once they spend at the least three seasons out of a five-year span above that line. The longer Denver can keep away from beginning that clock, the longer they’ll maintain the majority of this roster collectively.
Regardless of final season’s playoff disappointment, Denver remains to be among the many championship favorites for this season. They return 4 of their 5 starters and quite a lot of youthful gamers like Christian Braun, Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther are anticipated to step into bigger roles. With Caldwell-Pope gone, Gordon’s protection on opposing stars is extra necessary than ever. Now, he is set to catch lob passes from Jokic for years to return.
