Can Julian Strawther Earn Another Contract in Denver?

Julian Strawther enters the 2026-27 season at a clear crossroads with the Denver Nuggets. The 24-year-old wing is eligible for a rookie-scale extension before the regular season begins, with the deadline falling around October 19. If no deal is reached, he will become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2027. After three seasons of flashes mixed with inconsistency, this is the year that will largely decide his long-term future in Denver.

Strawther was selected 29th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers and immediately traded to the Nuggets. In his rookie year, he averaged 4.5 points in 10.9 minutes across 50 games. He took a clear step forward in 2024-25, posting 9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 21.3 minutes per night. He also shot 43.2 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from three. Last season, the numbers dipped to 7.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists in just 15.1 minutes. However, his efficiency jumped to career-best marks of 46.7 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Across his first three seasons, Strawther has appeared in 172 games. In those games, he has averaged 7.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 16.2 minutes per night. He has shown the ability to step into larger roles when given the chance, with several double-digit scoring outbursts and a career-high 25-point game.

Still, the inconsistent minutes have left questions about whether he can become a steady rotation piece on a contending roster. The back issues that kept him out for stretches last season made matters worse. With veterans taking minutes ahead of him, his role began to shrink.
Trade

The reduction in playing time came even as Strawther showed he could score in bunches. He dropped 25 points on 9-of-19 shooting with four threes in a late-season win over the San Antonio Spurs. In the preseason, he has already reminded coaches of that upside. He led the Nuggets with 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting in 20 minutes off the bench against the Utah Jazz. Those performances matter more now that Peyton Watson has been traded to Cleveland. Finally, Strawther has a clearer path towards consistent second-unit minutes.

With Watson gone, the wing rotation currently features Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson, Christian Braun, and new addition DeMar DeRozan ahead of him. That still leaves an opening for a young shooter who can space the floor and attack closeouts. What Strawther needs to do is defend at an acceptable level and knock down open threes at his improved 38.7 percent clip. If he does, he has a real chance to lock down 18-22 minutes most nights.

Coach David Adelman has already highlighted Strawther’s ability to handle the ball in certain actions. “Because of Jamal not playing, it was almost a good way to force us to do stuff like that with Jules,” Adelman said after a recent preseason game.

“Some of that chase action stuff where you throw it ahead, get it back, if he gets to his right hand we all know how successful he can be.”

Strawther himself has embraced the expanded responsibilities. He even mentioned how the staff prepared him for more playmaking over the summer while still emphasizing his primary role as a scorer and spacer.

Denver’s front office faces real constraints when it comes to an extension. The team is already navigating luxury-tax and second-apron issues, making a long-term commitment to a still-developing wing less straightforward. Strawther is scheduled to earn roughly $4.83 million in the final year of his rookie deal. A modest raise into the $8-10 million range annually might be realistic if he proves he can stick as a reliable rotation piece.

However, the Nuggets have shown caution with similar decisions in the past. For Strawther, the equation is simple: he needs to turn improved shooting percentages into sustained production and defensive reliability.

There are two ways that Strawther can strengthen his case for a new deal. First, he needs to average closer to 20 minutes a game. Second, he needs to push his scoring back toward the 9- or 10-point range while maintaining last season’s efficiency. There is a flipside, though. If the minutes stay limited and the production stays modest, Denver may prefer to wait and see what the restricted free-agent market brings next summer.

The next six months will be crucial for Stawther and the Nuggets. He will either become a long-term piece of Denver’s wing rotation, or another young player who showed promise but never quite panned out.