Nuggets battling with Timberwolves, Cavaliers, Warriors for $101 million Lakers superstar

The Denver Nuggets’ 2025-26 season didn't end the way they wanted it to. 

Although it would’ve been difficult for the franchise to advance to the NBA Finals with the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder standing in their way, the expectation was for them to make quick work of the depleted Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round of the postseason. 

The Nuggets failed to do so, losing to the Timberwolves in six games. On a positive note, Denver is reportedly looking to upgrade its roster significantly this summer. 

According to the Denver Post’s Bennett Durando, the Nuggets have joined the Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Golden State Warriors in the LeBron James sweepstakes.

“The Nuggets have reached out to LeBron James to express interest in the 21-time All-NBA forward in free agency,” Durando wrote Wednesday. “ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Tuesday that James will join a new team this offseason, ending an eight-year stint with the Lakers highlighted by a championship in 2020. The NBA’s free agency moratorium began.”

“Tuesday evening, with teams officially allowed to contact and negotiate with players. Cleveland, Golden State, and Minnesota are also among the teams reportedly showing interest.”

The Nuggets will certainly have their work cut out for them this summer, as the Warriors are the franchise expected to make the strongest push for James. It really isn’t all that surprising, considering Golden State has the oldest superstar (Stephen Curry, 38) among the bunch and wants to give him the best possible opportunity to ride off into the sunset with a championship. 

That said, nothing is stopping Denver from making a convincing pitch to James and pairing Nikola Jokic with the best free agent remaining on the market. The Nuggets’ defense would take a hit with the addition of James, though, as he isn’t the intimidating primary or help defender he used to be.

Still, James' awe-inspiring playmaking at his advanced age clearly has the 2023 NBA champions interested in signing him this summer.

More NBA news:

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• Spurs predicted to outbid Warriors for $101 million Lakers star, four-time NBA champion

• Luka Doncic sends clear message to Lakers on roster they can't afford to ignore