Nuggets Face Decision on DaRon Holmes II Option
The Denver Nuggets must decide on a $5.5 million team option for the 24-year-old forward by the end of October.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Basketball
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The Denver Nuggets are preparing to evaluate the future of DaRon Holmes II as they approach a deadline for his fourth-year team option. The 24-year-old forward, who was selected with the 22nd overall pick, is working to establish himself in the rotation after an injury-plagued debut.
Why it matters
The team must determine if Holmes fits into their long-term plans as they continue to refine their bench depth. His development as a versatile defender capable of guarding perimeter power forwards is central to whether the organization exercises his $5.5 million option.
Holmes recorded 11 points and 5 rebounds in the second half of a game against Chicago last Sunday. The team lost minutes featuring him by 24 points during his six starts last season.
The players
DaRon Holmes II
He is a 24-year-old forward who was the 22nd overall draft pick acquired by the Nuggets for three second-round selections.
Denver Nuggets
The Denver-based professional basketball franchise currently manages a roster that includes Holmes and Nnaji.
Zeke Nnaji
He is a player currently utilized by the Nuggets coaching staff as the primary backup center.
Aaron Gordon
He is a teammate of Holmes whose defensive perimeter positioning is being studied by the younger player.
The details
Coaching staff currently favor Zeke Nnaji as the backup center, while Holmes continues to study film of Aaron Gordon to improve his defensive positioning. Holmes struggled last season with a lack of trust in his Achilles, which limited his ability to jump and roll to the basket.
Timeline
Last season, Holmes started six contests for the Denver Nuggets.
Last Sunday, Holmes played against Chicago and recorded 11 points.
The deadline to exercise the fourth-year team option is the end of October 2026.
Season Trajectory
This decision marks a critical pivot point for the Nuggets' bench depth as they look to optimize their roster under the constraints of the NBA rookie-scale contract team option mechanism. The move will determine how the franchise balances immediate financial obligations against the developmental potential of their 2024 first-round investment.
The upcoming decision impacts the Nuggets' salary cap and roster flexibility for the remainder of the season. Readers should monitor whether Holmes secures a consistent role in the rotation to determine his potential fantasy basketball value as a backup contributor.
The takeaway
The Nuggets must weigh whether Holmes can overcome his previous injury setbacks to provide meaningful defensive versatility off the bench. Success for Holmes will depend on his ability to earn trust from the coaching staff during the final exhibition games of the preseason.
What happens next
The Nuggets will play two final exhibition games before the regular season begins, and the team must make an official decision on the $5.5 million team option by the end of October 2026.
Further reading
For more on roster moves, visit the Denver Basketball page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Denver Post.
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