Restricted free agent forward Spencer Jones just agreed to a two-year, $12 million offer sheet with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and man, the Denver Nuggets have a massive decision looming. ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news, confirming that the offer is fully guaranteed, putting the pressure squarely on Jones’ current team.
OKC Just Snagged a Sniper and Saved Big Bucks
This is a seriously smart play by the Thunder, especially after they cleaned house with some of their top shooters. Jones, at 25 years old, just wrapped his second season with the Nuggets, a team that went 54-28 and finished third in the Western Conference. He wasn’t lighting up the scoreboard every night, averaging 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 22 minutes over 64 games, starting 37 of them. But here’s the kicker: the dude can shoot from deep. He hit 40% on 144 three-point attempts during the season, and somehow bumped that to an insane 69% on 13 shots in the playoffs.
Why is that a big deal for OKC? Well, the Thunder traded away three of their top five three-point shooters this offseason. Isaiah Joe, who was hitting 42%, got dealt to the Detroit Pistons. Lu Dort, with 372 attempts, and Aaron Wiggins, who took 270 attempts, were both shipped off to the Atlanta Hawks in separate trades. All those moves were about saving money on the salary cap and staying below the luxury tax threshold. So, bringing in Jones, an undrafted guy out of Stanford who started on a two-way deal and got a full contract in February 2026, gives them a much lower-cost option to get some of that crucial three-point accuracy back on the roster. It’s pure business, but it’s effective.
Denver’s Clock Is Ticking and It’s Not Just About Jones
Now, the ball is firmly in Denver’s court, but that clock is winding down fast. The Nuggets have until 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday to decide whether they’re going to match this offer for Jones. We saw this play out recently with Moussa Cisse: the New York Knicks signed him to a two-year, $4.7 million offer, and the Dallas Mavericks matched it instantly to keep their second-year center. So, matching is definitely on the table for Denver.
But here’s the bigger headache for the Nuggets: Jones isn’t their only restricted free agent. They also have Peyton Watson, who’s reportedly looking for a massive $28 million per year salary. Watson, who turns 24 in September, put up some serious numbers, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 54 games, starting 40 of those. He also proved his range, hitting 41% on 197 three-point attempts. Deciding on Jones while also navigating Watson’s potentially huge deal? That’s a tough spot for the reigning champs.
The Nuggets have just hours until Sunday 11:59 p.m. ET to decide if they’re matching Jones’s $12 million deal. It’s a classic chess match, and Denver’s next move could absolutely ripple through their offseason. You just gotta wonder what they do with Watson while all this is happening. Get ready for some drama.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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