The Oklahoma City Thunder just dropped a bombshell, signing restricted free agent forward Spencer Jones to a two-year, $12 million offer sheet. This move immediately puts the Denver Nuggets, Jones’ current team, in a tough spot. They have until 11:59 p.m. ET Sunday to decide if they’re gonna match this fully guaranteed offer, and believe me, the clock is ticking loud.
OKC Is Hunting For Shooters, And Jones Fits The Bill
Jones, who just wrapped his second season with Denver, is clearly on OKC’s radar for one big reason: he can shoot. The 25-year-old averaged 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 22 minutes per game, appearing in 64 games and starting 37 for a Nuggets squad that finished third in the Western Conference with a 54-28 record. But here’s the kicker: he shot 40% on 144 3-point attempts in the regular season. That’s solid, right? And in the playoffs, he kicked it up even further, hitting an insane 69% on 13 3-point shots. The Thunder are actively looking to replace some serious long-range firepower after trading away three of their top five 3-point shooters this offseason. They shipped Isaiah Joe (who shot 42% from deep) to the Detroit Pistons, and then sent Lu Dort (372 attempts) and Aaron Wiggins (270 attempts) to the Atlanta Hawks in separate deals. OKC made these moves to save money on their salary cap and stay below the league’s luxury tax threshold. So, bringing in Jones, an undrafted guy out of Stanford who was converted to a full NBA contract in February 2026, would be a much lower-cost option to get some of that crucial 3-point shooting back on the roster. It’s a smart play by the Thunder, no doubt.
Denver’s Cap Space Headache Is Piling Up
This isn’t the first restricted free agent offer sheet we’ve seen lately. Just last week, the New York Knicks tried to snatch Dallas Mavericks center Moussa Cisse with a two-year, $4.7 million offer, but the Mavs quickly matched that to keep their guy. Now, Denver has to make a similar call with Jones, and it’s not their only headache. They’ve also got another restricted free agent, Peyton Watson, who might be seeking a whopping $28 million per year. 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, including 40 starts. He also showed he can hit from deep, shooting 41% on 197 3-point attempts. So, the Nuggets are staring down the barrel of potentially matching a $12 million offer for Jones while simultaneously figuring out how to handle a much larger potential payout for Watson.
So, what’s it gonna be, Denver? Do you cough up the $12 million to keep Jones, or do you let him walk to a conference rival and focus your funds elsewhere, potentially on Watson? Sunday night is the deadline, and every minute counts. This decision isn’t just about Spencer Jones; it’s about the Nuggets’ entire roster strategy moving forward!
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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