Restricted free agent forward Spencer Jones has agreed to a two-year, $12 million offer sheet with the Oklahoma City Thunder, giving his current team, the Denver Nuggets, just 48 hours to match the offer.
The Nuggets have until 11:59 p.m. ET Sunday to decide whether to match the fully guaranteed offer, which would keep Jones in Denver. The 25-year-old forward has been a key contributor for the Nuggets, averaging 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 22 minutes per game over his two seasons with the team.
Jones' shooting ability from beyond the arc could be especially valuable for the Thunder, who traded away three of their top five 3-point shooters during the offseason. The team parted ways with Isaiah Joe, Lu Dort, and Aaron Wiggins in separate trades, aiming to save money on its salary cap and stay below the league's luxury tax threshold.
As an undrafted player out of Stanford, Jones signed a two-way contract with the Nuggets for the 2024-25 season and was converted to a full NBA contract in February 2026. He has shown his value to the team with his consistent performance, shooting 40% on 144 3-point attempts during the regular season.
Jones is not the only restricted free agent the Nuggets have to consider. They also have to decide what to do with Peyton Watson, who may be seeking a $28 million per year salary. Watson, who turns 24 in September, averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 54 games (40 starts) for the Nuggets last season.
The Thunder's decision to sign Jones to an offer sheet is the second of its kind in the past week, following the New York Knicks' two-year offer worth $4.7 million to Dallas Mavericks center Moussa Cisse. However, the Mavericks quickly matched the offer and retained the second-year center.
The Nuggets' decision to match the Thunder's offer on Jones will have significant implications for the team's roster and salary cap situation. If they choose not to match, Jones will become a member of the Thunder, and the Nuggets will have to reassess their priorities and make adjustments to their roster accordingly.
The Nuggets have until Sunday night to make a decision on the offer, and it remains to be seen how they will approach this situation.
Source: Yahoo Sports