Denver, CO
How a Christian Braun Trade to the Mavericks Could Help Nuggets
A lot of changes could be in store for the Denver Nuggets over the next few months depending on how aggressive this front office wants to be in their offseason moves.
Those moves could even include a trade surrounding Christian Braun––their young wing that they just gave a $125 million extension to less than 12 months ago––yet may be on his way out if there’s a returning package that makes sense for the Nuggets to entertain.
The list of suitors for Braun could be slim. He’ll be making over $20 million next year, coming off a season in which his stock considerably dropped, and might be seen as an added risk to take on for whatever team might be on the receiving end of his services.
However, when surveying the market of those who could decide to take interest later this offseason, the Dallas Mavericks might be a team in search of that two-way presence on the wing next to Cooper Flagg. And if they are indeed interested in a swap, Denver has an ideal package they can try to obtain.
What a Christian Braun-Mavericks Trade Would Look Like
When looking at the Mavericks’ cap sheet and the players they have on the books, only a select few would make sense from Denver’s perspective to pursue, while also being valued comparably to Braun.
One of those top players who could be a strong fit for Denver in a Braun deal is P.J. Washington, who’s on a similarly long contract for the next four seasons, but makes a little less than $20 million for the 2026-27 season–– which tends to help out the Nuggets a bit in their current cap situation.
Here’s a look at what the total trade could look like for both Denver and Dallas if a Washington-for-Braun swap were truly in play:
One important factor to note about the deal is that it’d have to come after the draft takes place later this month. Braun has a poison pill restriction on his extension that lasts until July, and they can’t trade their first round pick until after making the selection due to the Stepien Rule in place.
However, if this trade were to have a bit of traction, it checks a lot of boxes for what the Nuggets would be looking for by swapping out Braun for a more versatile wing defender in Washington.
He’s a bit cheaper, has a better size to place him on the wing as a multi-positional defender, can be a positive floor spacer that fits with this elite Nuggets offense, and is still under contract for multiple seasons that rids of any concern that this is a short-term rental.
It’d only be a trade done if the Nuggets feel like Braun won’t be trending upwards any time soon, and their upcoming extension will only be a hinderance to their long-term growth. On the surface, it feels like Denver might not have reached that point with their young wing following one bumpy season just yet.
However, that doesn’t mean a deal like this doesn’t have value that the Nuggets could heavily consider.
Especially in what would be a great way to bolster their defensive upside next season, adding Washington could effectively allow Denver to lift off the ground as better than a bottom-10 defense in the league like they were in 2025-26.
The Nuggets adding in a first-round pick to sweeten the pot might not be totally preferable. But for where Braun and his value currently stand, walking out of a deal like this without giving up draft compensation feels pretty unlikely.
A 26th-overall pick, while valuable, isn’t the end of the world for the Nuggets’ forfeit, and might actually be what tips the Mavericks over the edge to be onboard with a move like such.
Iif the Nuggets want to truly maximize their roster on both ends, adding Washington offers a good chance of being able to do just that. So if the Mavericks were one of the select teams willing to take on the risk that Braun has baked in, this could be a deal Denver considers pulling the trigger on.
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For the last four seasons, Mitch Fraboni has been the Bronco long snapper (he was the LS for part of 2022). Long snappers are critical, but forgotten parts of every football team. Like offensive linemen, they only get noticed if they screw up.
Mitch is not only a competent long snapper, but he is also a decent tackler, getting anywhere from four to six tackles on punt coverage every season. Mitch had four tackles (3.5) last season on 75 punts – only 29 of which were returned. The leader on punt tackles for the Denver Broncos last season was JL Skinner with 5.5.
Position: LS | 6-2, 223lb (188cm, 101kg)
Admittedly only the gunners and the long snapper can be downfield before the punt is away, but Mitch is still an asset as a tackler on punt coverage.
Denver Broncos football is right around the corner.
As the 2026 World Cup nears its July 19 final, sports fans will soon begin turning their attention toward NFL training camps. The Broncos are set to open training camp on July 31 — two weeks from today — with the first of 14 practices open* to fans.
*Due to construction at the team’s facility, capacity at practice will be limited to approximately 1,000 fans, so (free) tickets are required to attend. Those tickets became available on July 1 and were quickly claimed. (Tickets are sometimes returned, though, so fans should check Ticketmaster for potential available tickets.)
Broncos training camp schedule
- Friday, July 31: 10 a.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 1: 10 a.m.
- Monday, Aug. 3: 10 a.m.
- Tuesday, Aug. 4: 10 a.m.
- Wednesday, Aug. 5: 10 a.m.
- Thursday, Aug. 6: 10 a.m.
- Friday, Aug. 7: 10 a.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 8: 10 a.m.
- Monday, Aug. 10: 10 a.m.
- Tuesday, Aug. 11: 10 a.m.
- Wednesday, Aug. 12: 10 a.m.
- Monday, Aug. 17: 10 a.m.
- Tuesday, Aug. 18: 10 a.m.
- Wednesday, Aug. 19: 10 a.m.
Fans should note that Denver’s practice schedule is subject to change due to weather. Be sure to check the team’s Twitter/X page for the latest updates on the practice schedule.
In addition to the open camp practices, the Broncos will play three preseason games in August, including two at home. After that, Denver will open the season against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football on Sept. 14.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
Pedal boats are back at City Park in Denver this week and they come in more shapes than just swans.
On Wednesday, the city of Denver opened its newest so-called Adventure Hub where visitors can rent gear to enjoy on Ferril Lake. That includes pedal boats shaped like swans, dragons, ducks and flamingos, as well as kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards. If you’d rather pedal on land instead of the water, the hub also has beach cruiser bikes and surrey bikes, which hold up to six people, available for rent.
City Park’s Adventure Hub is the second to open this year, following another at Washington Park in early June. Stephanie Figueroa, spokesperson for Denver Parks and Recreation, said rentals were supposed to start sooner at City Park, but that the electricity powering the point-of-sale system needed to be replaced after a fire at the historic bandshell there.
Water sport rentals cost range from $15 per hour for a SUP or single-person kayak to $35 per hour for swan, dragon and duck pedal boats, which fit up to four people. Bikes are similarly priced at $15 per hour for a single-person beach cruiser up to $45 per hour for a surrey “stretch limousine” for six riders. Figueroa noted that it is a flat fee and not a per-person charge.
“For families, as long as you fit, you can go,” she said, adding that gear is available for rent during the City Park Jazz series this summer.
This year marks the first time in at least two decades that Denver officials have managed gear rentals in City Park. The city ended its longtime contract with vendor Wheel Fun Rentals, which previously supplied things like swan pedal boats, in early 2026 after more than 20 years, Figueroa said.
Denver’s decision to take over operations was both more cost-effective and enabled the city to have more control over the experience, she added. Part of the impetus was a recent initiative called the Outdoor Adventure and Alternative Sports Strategic Plan, which sought to identify how Denver could offer more recreation opportunities to residents.
“That gave us the tools and knowledge to bring this in-house,” Figueroa said. “We have historically been amazing at indoor recreation and now we want to bring more of those opportunities outside.”
The Adventure Hub at City Park is open every day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., while the one at Washington Park is open every day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. They are both closed on city-observed holidays.
Another Adventure Hub, currently under construction at Ruby Hill, is expected to open late this year or early next, Figueroa said.
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