Denver

Nuggets

Despite inefficient shooting, the unrestricted free agent logged another solid overall performance, following Friday’s 26 points with 17 points and six assists on Sunday. He put together some quality production during the Las Vegas Summer League, which could help his chances of landing on an NBA roster beyond the offseason. Still, he likely won’t have an impact this season in regards to fantasy basketball.

Brazile did not have his best night shooting the basketball, but the second-round pick still showed why Denver made sure to draft him. Active on the glass and defensively, the 6-foot-10 forward finished with another solid stat line. Like fellow second-round pick Bryce Hopkins, Brazile has not yet agreed to a contract, with Peyton Watson’s free agency likely a factor. However, he has the potential to contribute immediately for the Nuggets because of his athleticism and motor.

Hopkins, whose contract status for next season has not been finalized, has played well throughout the Nuggets’ time in Las Vegas. The former St. John’s forward shot 3-of-6 from beyond the arc on Thursday and was a blocked shot shy of a complete stat line. Depending on what happens with Peyton Watson, who is a restricted free agent, Hopkins’ fantasy ceiling as a rookie will be limited. That said, he has the experience and skill set needed to contribute immediately if called upon.

Released by the Bucks in January after joining them on a two-way deal last summer, Sears is playing with the Nuggets as an unrestricted free agent. And with Denver already having KJ Simpson on a two-way deal, the former Alabama standout is likely competing for an Exhibit 10 contract if he’s to remain with the franchise in the fall. Sears put up good scoring numbers on Thursday, shooting over 50 percent from the field, but this does not change his fantasy outlook for next season.

While Trevon Brazile stole the show with his 32-point effort, Hopkins supplemented his fellow rookie’s night with another quality performance. Hopkins’ stat line was missing only a blocked shot, and he made five of his 11 two-point attempts. Denver has yet to finalize its offseason business, as restricted free agent Peyton Watson is still on the market. That said, Hopkins offers the combination of talent and experience that could lead to opportunities to contribute off the bench next season. That isn’t enough to make him fantasy-relevant, but things could be far worse for Hopkins.

Brazile put forth his best performance of the summer on Tuesday, and he was on fire from the start. The second-round pick scored 19 points in the first half, ending it with a long three from just inside the half-court line as time expired. Brazile would score 13 more after halftime, more than holding his own against a Thunder frontcourt headlined by lottery pick Aday Mara. Because of Peyton Watson’s restricted free agency, Brazile’s contract status has not been finalized, but games like Tuesday’s likely increase his chances of landing a standard deal.

Diallo, 29, won EuroLeague Best Defender award last year. Now he’ll make the jump to the NBA on a guaranteed contract with the Nuggets. While Diallo agreed to a relatively cheap contract, the fact a contending team like Denver decided to take a chance on him speaks volumes.

Hopkins did not do as much scoring as he did in his summer debut on Friday, but the rookie out of St. John’s had another solid effort for the Nuggets. His activity as a rebounder and defender has been good; playing his final season for Rick Pitino certainly paid dividends on that end of the floor. Whether he’s on a two-way deal or a standard contract, Hopkins has the tools needed to contribute if his name is called during the regular season.

Stevenson signed a 10-day contract with the Wizards late in the 2024-25 season but never appeared in an NBA game. He’s still seeking his first legitimate NBA opportunity, which makes days like Saturday so important for the former West Virginia guard. Against the Timberwolves, Stevenson shot 4-of-7 from beyond the arc to help lead the Nuggets to a 19-point victory. He’s an unrestricted free agent, so there’s no need to expect to receive fantasy value from Stevenson. But he may have taken a step toward earning a training camp invite with his performance on Saturday.

Simpson signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Nuggets in February, so his status for the 2026-27 season is relatively secure. The lone issue with his performance on Saturday was the five turnovers, but he did enough in other areas to help Denver take the 101-82 victory. Simpson cleaned some things up after a subpar performance in the Nuggets’ first game in Las Vegas; the key now is to build on his showing against the Timberwolves.