Why KU basketball’s Christian Braun has appeared in trade rumors with Nuggets
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Media reports say the Nuggets may explore trades to create financial flexibility.
- KU’s Christian Braun played 44 games after a severe November ankle injury.
- Braun’s 5-year, $125 million extension kicks in for 2026-27, making him trade candidate.
There have been some media rumblings that the Denver Nuggets may be open to discussing possible trade offers for former Kansas standout Christian Braun, who has played four seasons — including a championship campaign in 2022-23 — with the NBA team.
“There is a growing belief league-wide that the Nuggets will explore their potential trade options with Christian Braun as well as Cam Johnson in a bid to create financial flexibility for matching offers to restricted free agent Peyton Watson and perhaps further retooling of Nikola Jokic’s supporting cast,” NBA analyst Marc Stein of The Stein Line recently reported.
Salary relief in the form of a trade or two may be necessary if the Nuggets wish to sign 23-year-old restricted free agent Peyton Watson to a multi-year deal worth between $20 and $35 million a year. The Nuggets’ well-compensated roster also includes Braun, whose five-year, $125 million contract extension kicks in during the 2026-27 season as well as three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who is due $59 million with a $63 million player option for 2027-28; Jamal Murray (due $50 million in 2026-27; $54 million in 2027-28 and $58 million in 2028-29) and Aaron Gordon ($32 million in 2026-27, $35 million in ‘27-28 and $37 million in ‘28-29).
Denver Post reporter Bennett Durando makes it sound as if instead of dealing Braun, the Nuggets instead will focus on him becoming 100% healthy again, as he was during his first three highly-productive seasons in the league.
Braun played in just 44 games last season after suffering a severe ankle injury in November. He also reportedly was hurt in Game 1 of the Nuggets’ first-round six-game playoff loss to Minnesota, a leg injury reducing his effectiveness.
“If the Nuggets were to move on from Braun this offseason, it’s widely believed they would need to attach other assets in a trade to get another team to take on his contract. They currently have no future first-round draft picks eligible to be traded, after using their 2032 pick to move off Michael Porter Jr.’s hefty salary last summer,” wrote Durando. “They can, however, trade this year’s first-round pick on draft night (Tuesday and Wednesday in Brooklyn, New York) if they so choose.
“More likely,” Durando continued, “Denver will need Braun to get healthy and prove that his 2024-25 season wasn’t an anomaly. He was a candidate for most improved player that year, leading all NBA guards in true shooting percentage with a 66.5% clip, ranking fourth overall behind three centers. He did that while guarding the opponent’s best perimeter player most nights. He averaged 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists (compared to 12.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg last year), leading the league in fast-break points. That and a vote of confidence from Jokic guided the Nuggets to prioritize him over Peyton Watson in preseason extension talks.”
The 6-foot-6, 25-year-old Braun, who helped KU to the 2022 NCAA title and Nuggets to the 2023 NBA crown (he also won three titles at Blue Valley Northwest) never has used injury as an excuse for struggles in 2025-26.
According to the Post’s Durando, Braun’s playoff calf injury seriously limited his running and jumping ability.
“I could sit here and make every excuse. I could blame my ankle. I could blame injuries people don’t know about,” Braun told the Post. “That doesn’t really matter. If I’m going to be on the court the expectation is to win. The expectation is to play well.
“I was rewarded for my work on my rookie deal so I understand the expectations are higher and I need to be better.”
The Nuggets did win their final 12 regular season games last season and finished with a 54-28 record.
The team figures to be a contender (albeit with a huge payroll) if it decides to make no moves this offseason. Braun prior to last season was an ironman of sorts, playing in 76, 82 and 79 games his first three years in the league.
A fan favorite, Braun in the past has expressed a desire to remain a Nugget for years to come.
“I just think I’m the leader of this team,” Braun told the Denver Post. “I’m the vocal leader of this team.”
Of losing in the first round of the 2026 playoffs, he said: “It’s just unacceptable. Especially with the talent we have on this roster. I think when we come here every single year, we talk about championships. That’s our mindset and our goal. And obviously, we fell short. A first-round exit’s not acceptable. … You can kind of put it on my shoulders. I think this team wasn’t resilient enough in the playoffs.”
Considering the intangibles Braun brings, which includes getting the fans involved following his athletic, rim-rattling slam dunks, the team may avoid any temptation to trade Braun just to gain relief from his salary.
“It’s not outlandish to think that a team that won 54 games last year with poor injury luck could bounce back in a regular season and playoff environment by simply playing better and getting another role player or two. Then again, it has been three full years since Denver’s title run. That matters, and as time wears on, the Nuggets look less and less like the team that dominated the Western Conference,” wrote Ryan Blackburn of milehighsports.com.
It also should be noted three-time MVP Jokic is a close friend of Braun who is an admirer of the former KU wing’s style of play and production on both offense and defense.
“The Nuggets want to keep Jokic happy, and he may be happier choosing Braun over Cameron Johnson if the Nuggets decide to avoid paying extra fines by staying out of the NBA’s second apron tax territory,” wrote David Decker of Yahoo Sports.
“Stars usually get their way, and Jokic’s no different. The Nuggets are going to do what they can to keep the three-time MVP award winner happy, and he deserves that. But what cost does it take for him to realize that Braun may not be the answer for another title?
“Braun’s average contract value of $25 million per year is a lot of money for a player who had a terrible season right after signing the contract (that begins in 2026-27). Sure, Braun was injured for much of the year, and he may have been slowed down more than we all realize in the playoffs, thanks to those injuries lingering. But he never showed the flashes of a $25 million-per-year player.”
