Story by
Nuggets Set to Part With Young Big Man After This Season
- Story by
- Nuggets Set to Part With Young Big Man After This Season
The Denver Nuggets have declined the rookie scale team option on forward DaRon Holmes II, making him an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Per a report from NBA insider Michael Scotto, Holmes would be owed $5.5 million for the 2027-28 campaign.
Advertisement
Instead, the 24-year-old former No. 22 overall draft pick in 2024 will look to kickstart his career elsewhere after an unsuccessful stint in Mile High City thus far.
Stunted By Injury
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
There was excitement around Holmes II coming out of Dayton, but he suffered a devastating setback before his NBA career could even start — tearing his Achilles tendon in his Summer League debut.
Holmes II didn't play his rookie year, finally making his Nuggets debut on Oct. 25, 2025. He notched his career-high 11 points on Dec. 31, 2025.
He appeared in 25 games, started 6, and averaged 3.7 points and 1.4 rebounds in just 8.4 minutes per game last season. His underlying metrics were good— he shot 50.8% from the field and 44.4% from deep on 45 attempts. However, he never got extended burn, stuck behind Jonas Valanciunas and Zeke Nnaji as primary Nikola Jokic backups.
Advertisement
Still, Holmes II continued putting in work, averaging 20.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 13 games with the Grand Rapids Gold — the Nuggets' G League affiliate last term.
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Though at a lower level of competition, those numbers are impressive enough to warrant an opportunity, especially considering Denver's thin depth this season. But head coach David Adelman hasn't budged, despite Holmes II playing well in preseason.
He averaged 6.7 points on 50 percent shooting in 12 minutes over four games but was unable to challenge Marvin Bagley III for rotation minutes to start the season — even with the Nuggets (3-3) struggling to find much consistency .
Advertisement
You'd think a 6-foot-9 wing who can stretch the floor and crash the glass could contribute, but the Nuggets have already made their decision.
Potential Is There
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
There should be a team willing to bet on Holmes II's potential as a free agent next year.
He averaged 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game in his last season at Dayton, and that production translated almost identically to the G League level.
Granted, that's not the NBA; however, the Nuggets have simply not given him the minutes to gather a big enough sample size to prove that he couldn't do it again. Therefore, Holmes II will be a low-risk, high-reward option for somebody out there.
Advertisement
He shot 54.4 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from three-point range as a senior in college.
There are enough numbers available to justify Holmes II getting a proper crack at winning a rotation role somewhere. After all, he got drafted in the first round for a reason.
