ExpressionAlone5204 | Thunder

178 | 8 hours ago

That’s the risk with falling in love with a young guy

EssentIYO | Magic

96 | 7 hours ago

Another case of when “had to pay him” goes wrong.

It_wasnt_me3 | New Zealand

10 | 5 hours ago

Which other team was gonna pay him anything near that?

UnsuspectingS1ut | Bucks

25 | 4 hours ago

Bruce brown got 22.5/year so I’m guessing someone would’ve paid him pretty close to that

Hot_Relative3020

2 | 3 hours ago

Then just match it in restricted free agency. Paying this money early was always dumb

pokexchespin | BOS

16 | 3 hours ago

it helps the team’s relationship with the player. the jazz made hayward go out and find an offer for them to match and he bolted as soon as it was up

pawner

-6 | an hour ago

Are they really sad about that tho? He became one of the most injured players after that.

National-Size-7205 | Heat

1 | 25 minutes ago

Hindsight is ²⁰⁄₂₀

EssentIYO | Magic

4 | 4 hours ago

I don’t know. I don’t work for any of the NBA front offices.

MaliInternLoL | Lakers

5 | 3 hours ago

There’s always a random team that will make a wild ass signing

xPhilt3rx | Lakers

1 | an hour ago

It didn’t go wrong for Christian Braun and his agent

waveshineoosupsmash

90 | 7 hours ago

The amount of players on the Nuggets roster that can’t shoot is unbelievable

PrimeTimeInc | Hornets

40 | 7 hours ago

The amount of players on rosters playing big minutes around the league that can’t shoot is pretty unbelievable in this era tbh

InTheMorning_Nightss | San Diego Clippers

29 | 7 hours ago

The expectation is just through the roof because we’ve seen examples of teams with insane shooting all around. The Celtics basically just spammed 3s and dominantly won a title with this strategy, but their roster was too expensive to ever keep together.

Realistically, trying to have like 80% of your rotation be good to elite 3 point shooters is tough. You’ll likely find guys who shoot, but they’ll simply be notably inconsistent.

PrimeTimeInc | Hornets

7 | 7 hours ago

For sure, obviously easier said than done to get a full rotation of guys who are all average to above average 3 point shooters and even harder to keep them. I somehow feel like as a whole we still aren’t valuing it enough in the draft tho. Why were the Celtics still so good this year? Obviously they got good players still and a great system, but does losing all they did and still being 2nd in striking distance of 1st in the east not say more about the player archetype they’re valuing in the draft (and in general) as much as anything? What good is a 6’7” PG/SG athletic freak to me if he can’t hit a 3 ball in 2k26?

InTheMorning_Nightss | San Diego Clippers

10 | 7 hours ago

IMO the Celtics and Thunder are perfect examples of why organizational excellence leads to good things on the court. Other teams, like the Grizzlies and Sixers, have quality scouting, but they have perpetually stayed in the “good but not true contender” status for a long time. But the Thunder and Celtics take it a step further, which has led to amazing results.

They draft well for their systems, give prospects an opportunity to develop, and then put them in positions to effectively play to their strengths. Go put Hugo Gonzalez on the Jazz or rookie/sophomore Jaylin Williams on the Kings and their trajectory and discourse changes immensely. If anything, the greater issue is that they have SO much depth at certain positions (the Celtics are obviously thin at the C spot now) that you’re hard pressed to find time for good prospects. Like honestly, the Thunder simply cannot pick at ¹⁵⁄₁₆ (their projected spots) at this point because that player will either get buried OR another quality prospect will be.

Overall, these teams are successful because they find important skills but also put their guys in a position to thrive by playing team centric ball. It’s why OKC can miss basically anyone and still maintain the #1 seed, or how the Celtics can be missing Tatum and they still find a way to be a Top 3 team.

Nodima

1 | 7 minutes ago

Pelicans are the worst example of how poorly this can go. They’ve been drafting very interesting to actually good players since Zion, but everything surrounding those decisions is drenched in chaos.

Wembanyanma | Spurs

1 | 32 minutes ago

Of half the guys who can shoot are turnstiles on defense that get hunted relentlessly.

DistributionOk9687

6 | 6 hours ago

Bcuz many shooters are rarely good defender, make a choice

ZonedV2

1 | 21 minutes ago

Yeah this thread is quite funny because there’s also a ton of players who can shoot but can’t defend at all. It’s just the reality of basketball since all the guys that can shoot and dribble dominated high school and college so their defence never mattered and vice versa

LurkerFailsLurking | Nuggets

6 | 6 hours ago

It was really apparent in the 4th quarter tonight when at one point Bruce Brown, CB, Jokic, THJ, and AG were on the floor and Brown and Braun would not shoot the fucking ball and it destroyed the spacing.

This off season, CB needs to do that practice AG did where he just tried shooting 3s “dummy fast” until live play felt slow. It helps that AG made his living room a basketball court.

Adenusi_David | Clippers

2 | an hour ago

They’ve got the best 3PT% funny enough, I feel they’ve just had a shit ton of fluctuations with their starting lineups so guys who normally don’t get to shoot a lot have to adjust to doing so

Adenusi_David | Clippers

0 | 44 minutes ago

For Braun in particular; I’ve noticed he commits a ton of fouls this season, esp against teams like OKC who have whistle-friendly SGA. Sure he could be more disciplined, but some of the calls I’ve seen against him are just ridiculous

pokexchespin | BOS

1 | 3 hours ago

and it could’ve been worse if aaron gordon hadn’t become a good shooter the last few years

itsnotyellowfever | MEM

52 | 7 hours ago

For all the talk about this being the deepest team in the Jokic era (and it still probably is) there are like 4 guys in Denver’s rotation right now that have a giant red exclamation point over their heads including two starters

It’s gonna be big for Adelman’s future that this team shows its ceiling in the playoffs or the continued current reliance on dudes who probably shouldn’t be on an NBA court is gonna be scrutinized heavily

Longjumping_One_9164 | Thunder

27 | 7 hours ago

This was always the case, even with THJ going off tonight.

JV, Brown, Johnson collectively are doing nothing for them and honestly MPJ clutch shot making is clearly missing.

OKC tonight we’re without its #1 and #2 centre’s, no jDub and no Caruso. The Nuggets are in trouble this year.

InTheMorning_Nightss | San Diego Clippers

19 | 7 hours ago

JV, Brown, and Johnson basically help buoy them up in the regular season, which is important enough. I still think Cam can help in a playoff series, because he’s historically played well then. But the Thunders’ defense is just so incredible that you legitimately have to clear a certain bar, or they basically render you useless. It’s what is the MOST terrifying about them IMO.

Like mediocre players simply become useless against them, which puts immense pressure on the stars to try to carry against a defense that will throw some of the NBA’s best on you. One reason why the Pacers brought them to 7 is because their role players largely cleared that bar, especially with Tyrese facilitating. Nesmith, Nembhard, Pascal, and Mathurin are all talented enough offensively + Hali boost to actually challenge the Thunders’ defense. Same kind of applied to the Nuggets with Murray, Gordon, MPJ, Jokic, and for a game or two, Russ.

kingmapoon123

3 | 7 hours ago

This is a really solid analysis in my view. But I am stupid and just like watching ball so you could be horrendously wrong

InTheMorning_Nightss | San Diego Clippers

1 | 7 hours ago

Haha my view is probably skewed by watching a team like LAC, where elite defenses have in recent years just neutralized some of our guys. Guys like Mann, Dunn, DJJ, Bogi, etc. basically play well enough offensively in the regular season, but then playoffs hit and it’s different. DJJ is the main on there who stands out, because the threat of a lob always has solid value offensively even if the shot isn’t falling.

TruWarierRecords | CHI

1 | 3 hours ago

Watches Harden make the perfect feed to a wide open Bogi/Dunn/DJJ 3.

*Bricks

It’s also why Batum has stayed employed, he literally only shoots 3s but atleast he’ll hit near 40% on 3-5 attempts a game.

kingmapoon123

0 | 7 hours ago

That’s inversely why the thunder aren’t as unbeatable as some people think as well I think. They’ve got a team full of elite defensive players and competent offensive players. But when defenses actually lock in and engage they’re not great offensively and you can pretty much sell out on locking down sga. But .. again, stupid so I’m probably just talking shit

Longjumping_One_9164 | Thunder

0 | 7 hours ago

This is the difference from last year which we saw last night, pur offense is a lot less one dimensional and thats without jDub playing.

This year we have more shooting and AJ Mitchells growth has opened up alot in the non-SGA minutes.

This team is much better than last year offensively, but can still be prone to cold shooting. But with SGA, JDub, AJ Mitchell and now McCain we have far more creation versatility.

kingmapoon123

1 | 7 hours ago

I hope so. I was dying inside with how many missed shots yous missed last playoffs lol

Longjumping_One_9164 | Thunder

0 | 6 hours ago

Yes it was annoying as all hell just how bad overall the shooting was, especially in the road.

That combined with inexperience made series way closer than realistically hspuld have been (G1 Nuggs and G1 Finals).

This year not going to be anywhere as present.

kingmapoon123

0 | 6 hours ago

This year it’s hopefully not gonna be anywhere near as present.

InTheMorning_Nightss | San Diego Clippers

1 | 7 hours ago

This. They can win in shootouts now simply because Ajay and McCain have given them players who can thrive in an offensive battle, while still having more than enough two way juice to put the clamps on a team when they start to cool off.

Longjumping_One_9164 | Thunder

1 | 6 hours ago

Honestly its not so much even shootouts, its more we just will be more effective offensively in general.

We are almost certain to shoot better than 30% from 3P (last year) and won’t rely on SGA for every half-court set. We just won’t have the drop off in the 2nd unit we did last year.

This team is pretty significantly better than last year’s, so its going to be some performance to beat them.

Longjumping_One_9164 | Thunder

2 | 7 hours ago

Yeap Pacers gave us trouble because stylistically they can take advantage of the defense approach.

Relentlessly fast with shooting 1-12 was so hard to contain. They were a very high end team by the Finals that just had so much offensive power. Like Obi Toppin was shooting what felt like 50% from three.

DamnReality

2 | an hour ago

If the other guy is Cam Johnson, yeah it’s a bummer he hasn’t found his game, but the don’t need to keep him this offseason and definitely are gonna focus on keeping Peyton Watson.

As for Braun, I honestly think this is going to end up being a down year for him, he had an injury. I think after a good offseason he’ll come back to being the transition merchant/hustle guy that Nuggets love.

Longshanks2020

48 | 7 hours ago

He’s just a really strong role player that can spot start. 25 mil isn’t that bad though. He’s probably worth 18-20 mil.

HatingAssNgga55

5 | an hour ago

Grand scheme of things not a horrible contract

Domainsetter

2 | 39 minutes ago

It’s like Quickley. A starter, but not a high end one and a bit overpaid but not insanely overpaid.

Ok_Friendship9310

38 | 8 hours ago

As expected, he ain’t worth the deal

Harleytk24 | Lakers

24 | 7 hours ago

He’s definitely lost a step coming back from the ankle injury

No-Independence-761

19 | 6 hours ago

Temu Josh Hart

He was paid to be the guy defensively and yet he can’t get around a screen, has T rex arms and generates very few stocks (on a team that barely generates turnovers).

Got himself generational wealth off of running the break and finishing cuts in the regular season last year lol.

He wouldn’t sniff a starting role on another team if he didn’t have Jokic to leech off of.

SheckNot910

13 | 7 hours ago

He shot 38% his first 3 years. I doubt those were a fluke.

Fun_Mind1494

18 | 7 hours ago

On very low volume.

No-Independence-761

4 | 6 hours ago

Literally the lowest volume of any starting SG in the league last season

EdwardBlizzardhands

10 | 7 hours ago

The r/nba thread on him signing that deal: https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1obpo0z/charania_denver_nuggets_guard_christian_braun_has/

Common opinion is it was a good contract and “just what those guys get these days”.

Fun_Mind1494

7 | 7 hours ago

A lot of NBA GMs are similar to r/NBA in that they act as if young players improve on a linear growth curve.

GuacKiller

1 | 43 minutes ago

According to 2k, rookies should gain 4-10 overall points every offseason.

spizcraft | Nuggets

9 | 7 hours ago

Not going to mention he’s missed 36 games with a severe ankle injury that he re-aggravated returning too soon?

Sensitive_Carry3872

6 | 8 hours ago

He’s also shooting 28% from 3. I could see the nuggets trying to move on from him to extend Watson.

That-Steak7081

20 | 7 hours ago

No one’s taking him on, they’d have to attach assets they don’t have. They made their cost cutting move with their 32’ pick already.

Sensitive_Carry3872

-6 | 7 hours ago

Hes still only 24 with a high motor. Sure the shots arnt falling but i could definitely see a team taking a chance purely off that.

That-Steak7081

5 | 7 hours ago

And they’ll be paying him until he’s 30 lol.

Rude-Cook7246

1 | 7 hours ago

great but Jokic is 31 and ring window is based on Jokic’s age not CBs

PlayInChampions | Timberwolves

10 | 7 hours ago

One of the worst deals in the league, no one would want him. He is getting paid like McDaniels, crazy

Appropriate_Book_591

5 | 7 hours ago

No one is taking him or Nnaji who never plays.

No-Independence-761

1 | 6 hours ago

Who’s taking that contract lol

What I find hilarious is that they signed him to this deal IMMEDIATELY after salary dumping MPJ

Millies_ButtersMilk | Timberwolves

1 | 25 minutes ago

Nah they will move cam this off season to keep Watson. If they didn’t sign Braun to that contract they could keep Cam and Watson but bc they did it’s either keep Cam and lose Watson or keep Watson and lose Cam. What sucks about that is even though Cam is night and day in his shooting a lineup with Braun and Watson in it is nice defensively but offensively my gawd it’s lacking.

Kindly_Letterhead_98

6 | 8 hours ago

Chandler parsons 2.0

Fun_Mind1494

10 | 7 hours ago

Parsons was a lot better, and his serious knee injury is the only reason he fell off. Two completely different players, other than them being… You know.

_The_Flying_Elvis_ | Celtics

5 | 5 hours ago

Man i remember i hated his shot. That thing had 0 arc on it 😭

Millies_ButtersMilk | Timberwolves

1 | 24 minutes ago

But that shit was BUTTA

kingmapoon123

6 | 7 hours ago

Feel like so much of building a championship team is getting lucky/being amazing at knowing when to give out massive contracts

empowered676

2 | 7 hours ago

You think they would have learnt by now

Total-Big-1019

2 | 6 hours ago

wish denver’s FO and coaching could be anywhere near as good as okc’s… what a bloody damn shame waste of jokic’s prime

dizzymidget44 | Pistons

2 | 6 hours ago

Ass

DoctorBallsJohnson

2 | 5 hours ago

To be fair he’s only paid 5m this season, but they fucked themselves not dumping him before the trade deadline. Lookin at spotrac there are some good lowkey role players at that price and they are gonna have a very tough time moving Braun. They also jump from the 10th most expensive team to 3rd next year.

The gm should be investigated or something that is some atrocious management

millennialdude | Thunder

2 | 4 hours ago

I realize inflation slaps hard, and the NBA is one of the few industries where salaries are actually keeping pace, but that is a stupid ass amount of money to be paying Christian Braun, no offense to the kid. If I were the team and his agent asked for that amount of money I might have just left the negotiating table and banned both of them from the facility forever.

vojvodjanskakrvavica

1 | 7 hours ago

I hope he’s gonna step up and be worth it

SpiritFantastic4835 | Lakers

1 | 7 hours ago

This will happen to Watson aswell nuggets let him go👀

Andy_Wiggins | Timberwolves

1 | 6 hours ago

I mean, I do think he deserves a bit of a break — while he was kind of ass before the injury, having a big injury in the middle of the season can really throw off your rhythm, especially since Denver’s been rotating in so many different guys due to injury.

With that being said, I do think the jumper has always been bad, he just was getting enough wide open looks to prop up the percentage. This year, it’s just ass and his confidence looks shot. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a guy like Braun who is a good defender but not an elite one (like Jaden McDaniels who got a similar contract and has also had some offensive inconsistency/shaky shooting).

Codenameraiden

1 | 5 hours ago

Like clockwork after getting the bag

Ok-Purchase-5497

1 | 2 hours ago

He’s been hurt and was a legitimately promising two way wing last year, my guess is this contract looks completely fine by the end of it

TheUglyGawd

1 | an hour ago

God I wish that guy I argued with on here didn’t delete his account so I could rub this in his face. Denver may be one of the worst run front offices that no one talks about. When will these teams learn that overpaying home grown talent can kill franchises. Denver alone has overpayed Braun and Naji plus others. Hell they had to attach a first to Porter to get rid of him just for him to be better then Johnson, brown and Jonas.

scarletmonkey111

1 | an hour ago

Russ on a minimum last year was putting up better stats than CB right now 😭

Guardsred70 | Lakers

1 | an hour ago

Could also impact their ability to keep Watson this summer.

SlickVanExel | Hornets

1 | an hour ago

Hurts even more when Peyton Watson is due for an extension next and they had no idea he’d take a leap like this.

AccomplishedStyle600 | Knicks

1 | an hour ago

Kinda wild how he was getting cooked by SGA like there was almost no resistance and he just couldn’t hit the brakes to keep up with SGA. Lower body injuries suck.

BrownBadBunny069

1 | 35 minutes ago

Reduce player salaries. Reduce tv money. Reduce executive pay. Reduce coaches pay. Reduce ads. Reduce gambling integration. Reduce ticket prices. Games should be broadcast over the air for free. Make guys actually play to get paid. If you have an anti trust exemption you should be treated as a utility. Enough of this garbage. WE are paying for this stuff.

DayManMasterofNight | Spurs

1 | 32 minutes ago

$25M is a pretty normal contract for a starter these days. It’s wild, but not that crazy.

Millies_ButtersMilk | Timberwolves

1 | 29 minutes ago

I never thought it was a good contract and when I ask Denver fans I get mixed feelings on it all the time like some say he was playing really good before he got injured but idk he just doesn’t speak 123M player to me

KgDawk21520 | Celtics

1 | 6 minutes ago

This are Baylor Scheierman numbers

tsultar1

0 | 5 hours ago

His defense is awful

Hot_Relative3020

0 | 3 hours ago

It’s going to cost them Watson

Chemical_Bathroom424 | Timberwolves

1 | 3 minutes ago

Him and cam have been pretty disappointing so far this season. Denver’s gonna need their role players to step up down the stretch

WinterCareful8525

-1 | 7 hours ago

Gotta wait til’ playoffs. Denver will round into form by then if they don’t catch any more unlucky breaks

YpsitheFlintsider

-1 | 5 hours ago

Ok

Parallel-Quality

-7 | 8 hours ago

He played well in the playoffs and the contract seemed justified at the time.

Fun_Mind1494

7 | 7 hours ago

No, many shrewd minds thought it was a wild overpay even at the time.

Crabbypattygod

4 | 7 hours ago

he shot like 20 percent on mostly open 3s in the playoffs

Christian Braun has averaged 10.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 29 games this season. Christian Braun signed a 5 year, \(125,000,000 contract with the Denver Nuggets, including \)125,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $25,000,000 which will start in 2026-2027.