Denver, CO
Nuggets are betting on Christian Braun to replace Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Can he?
It might’ve actually been fitting that the first hours of NBA free agency were unexpectedly quiet for the Nuggets. Too quiet.
There will be roster moves in Denver. That’s a certainty. Vlatko Cancar and DeAndre Jordan are each likely to return on one-year deals, league sources told The Denver Post, and that still leaves two roster spots unoccupied. The Nuggets will be able to use the $5.2 million taxpayer mid-level exception to fill one of those. They are staying active in the trade market as well, even kicking the tires on Russell Westbrook.
But yes, it’s fitting that no concrete roster additions occurred Sunday between the start of free agent negotiations (4 p.m. MT) and the print deadlines of the local newspaper. While the Nuggets’ front office was busy, no doubt, the rest of Denver was stuck with nothing to reflect on except a loss.
What does the departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to Orlando, reported first by USA TODAY’s Jeff Zillgitt, for three years and $66 million mean?
First off, it’s not as simple as a downright indictment of ownership’s willingness to spend, nor does it set a precedent that Denver will never be a second-apron team under any circumstance during the life of this CBA. The Nuggets, according to The Athletic, showed serious interest in trading for Paul George before the draft, for example.
A league source confirmed to The Post that Denver was briefly in talks with the Clippers about George, though it’s questionable how far along those conversations got. An extend-and-trade would have required Michael Porter Jr., Zeke Nnaji and draft picks. What’s the point of that information? Interest in a player of George’s pedigree and salary, especially as an outsider rather than as the team drafting and developing that player, indicates a pretty clear openness to spending.
Choosing whether to wade into the second-apron morass is about more than whether an owner is too cheap to pay the luxury tax bill. It’s a question of whether certain moves, certain contracts, are worth sacrificing roster flexibility. If the Nuggets went into the second apron to keep Caldwell-Pope, they would not have been able to even entertain a trade like that one. So far, the Nuggets have given no reason to believe they won’t exceed the second apron if they view it to be worth the competitive risks. General manager Calvin Booth said as much after the season ended.
“I think for me personally, it’s win a championship, one. Two, we have to look at the overall financial picture. And three, second apron,” he said then when asked about Caldwell-Pope. “And I know the second apron is daunting, and there’s all kinds of restrictions, but I don’t think that’s first on our priority list.”
The overall financial picture includes more than just this free agency cycle. It includes a future when Denver could be trying to juggle increased salaries for Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon with extensions for Christian Braun and Peyton Watson. What if that duo is on the rise two offseasons from now, and Caldwell-Pope is starting to decline? Being on the hook for $22 million to a 33-year-old Caldwell-Pope could come back to bite. Only time can tell.
Anyway, in a more immediate sense: The loss of Caldwell-Pope despite possessing his full Bird rights reads as a full-hearted bet on Braun, whose most recent impression was out-defending KCP against Minnesota in the playoffs.
They’re very different players. (Make no mistake: As of July 2024, Caldwell-Pope is a better one.) Defensively, Braun might not be quite as tenacious a screen navigator as KCP, but he’s much bigger for a two-guard. He’s a formidable point-of-attack and help defender already at age 23, and he can hold his own in the post against other physically overpowering guards and forwards, from LeBron James to Anthony Edwards to Luka Doncic. Considering that Braun is only two years into his NBA career, it’s reasonable to believe he’s on his way to being regarded as an elite wing defender in the same light as Caldwell-Pope.
The offensive fit is the biggest uncertainty. Braun plays at a fast, downhill pace with the ball — athletic and fearless at its best, rushed and messy at its worst — that doesn’t theoretically mesh with the methodical, cerebral identity of Denver’s starting lineup. However, Nikola Jokic has always rewarded good cutters, and Braun does have a good feel for when to pounce on open space or dive to the rim. If anyone can optimize his off-ball effectiveness, it’s this lineup.
Of course, shooting is an inevitable aspect of good off-ball offense as well. Only Braun can optimize that for himself. Nuggets coach Michael Malone has labeled Braun’s 3-point percentage as a defining factor in his potential as a starter.
Braun is more than fine above the break — 42.9% last season to Caldwell-Pope’s 39.6%. But KCP shot 11% better in the corners on way higher volume. That’s an area where Braun needs to keep developing his shot if the Nuggets want effective floor-spacing with him planted there. It could also benefit him to diversify his midrange game. He barely attempted any shots outside the paint but inside the arc last season, and he only made 32% of his shots in the midrange. Jokic is one of the best dribble handoff centers in the NBA, and he got efficient value out of Caldwell-Pope by turning DHOs into 15-foot pull-up jumpers.
Only 10 players in the NBA attempted more shots out of DHOs and made them at a higher rate than Caldwell-Pope (43.2% on 88 attempts). He was even more effective than Porter within that play-type, according to the NBA’s data. As of now, swapping in Braun means subtracting that skillset.
But even if Braun doesn’t develop that, he makes up for the subtraction with the addition of his off-the-dribble upside. He’s not a great ball-handler, but he has the strength and gumption to drive into traffic and finish through contact, unlike Caldwell-Pope. If Braun can refine that and eliminate the inconsistency, it would add a new layer to a starting lineup that lacks burst off the dribble. Opponents will dare Braun to attack them when the ball finds him within the flow of Denver’s offense. He’ll be thrown into the fire quickly.
Ultimately, Braun has displayed the two-way athleticism and early signs of shooting prowess to prove to Denver’s front office that he’s worth a vote of confidence. He had a 15.4 net rating last season when he shared the floor with Jokic, and if Caldwell-Pope’s minutes are to translate even somewhat directly to Braun next season, it means the KU alum is about to be on the court with Jokic more than any other Nugget.
But until further notice, Sunday was the end of a miniature era: the day the Nuggets had to forfeit their claim to the title of Best Starting Five in the NBA.
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Denver, CO
Kalshi World Cup Promo Code DENVER: Trade $10, Get $10 Bonus for Sunday Night Matches – Denver Stiffs
New players can register with Kalshi World Cup promo code DENVER and trade $10 to unlock $10 in bonuses. Click here to start the registration process.
There are World Cup games to choose from every single day this week. New players who take advantage of this Kalshi promo will have the chance to make predictions on Netherlands-Japan, Ivory Coast-Ecuador or any other game this week.
Kalshi World Cup Promo Code DENVER Delivers $10 Sign-Up Bonus
| Kalshi Promo Code | DENVER |
|---|---|
| New User Offer | $10 Sign-Up Bonus |
| Terms and Conditions | 18+ and Present in the US |
| Bonus Last Verified On | June 14, 2026 |
New Kalshi customers can take advantage of an exciting $10 sign-up bonus to get involved with the full slate of FIFA World Cup matchups taking place in this round. Users can apply the bonus to any of the upcoming World Cup matches. Whether you want to trade shares on the Netherlands, predict the outcome for Ivory Coast, or back Sweden, this promotion gives you the flexibility to spread your predictions across multiple games.
To claim the $10 bonus, new users must make a first-time deposit of at least $1. The $10 bonus will be unlocked after the user has made $10 in trades on their prediction markets. Kalshi is available in all 50 states, and users must be at least 18 to play. Furthermore, the platform’s utility extends well beyond soccer; traders can also apply their market knowledge to a wide variety of daily NHL and MLB prediction markets available on Kalshi.
World Cup Matches: Win Probabilities
Before executing your trades on Kalshi, it is helpful to analyze the expected likelihood of each outcome. The structure of predicting soccer matches lies in the three-way outcome, where users can back the home team, the away team, or a draw.
The table below outlines the win probabilities for the relevant matches taking place on the June 14 World Cup slate.
Home Team
Away Team
Home Win %
Draw %
Away Win %
Germany
Curacao
94
4
3
Netherlands
Japan
48
28
27
Ivory Coast
Ecuador
29
34
39
Sweden
Tunisia
52
28
22
Reviewing these percentages offers a clear, data-driven snapshot of which teams enter as heavy favorites and which fixtures project as closely contested battles. For instance, while Germany is heavily favored to handle Curacao, the matchups between Ivory Coast and Ecuador or the Netherlands and Japan are much tighter on paper.
These are the exact fixtures where you can strategically apply your $10 sign-up bonus. By studying these probabilities, new users can plan their first $10 in trades to unlock their welcome offer on the most compelling World Cup action.
How to Redeem Kalshi World Cup Promo Code DENVER
Getting started with Kalshi and securing your welcome offer is a straightforward process. Once activated, your $10 bonus is not restricted to a single event—it can be used on any of the June 14 World Cup matches, or any other World Cup fixture taking place this week. Whether you want to predict the outcome of the Netherlands taking on Japan, Ivory Coast battling Ecuador, or Sweden clashing with Tunisia, you have the ultimate flexibility to use your bonus across the board.
Follow these simple steps to claim your bonus before kickoff:
- Download the App: Search for and download the Kalshi app on your preferred mobile device.
- Register an Account: Create your new account by providing standard personal information (such as your name, email address, and date of birth). You will also need to provide proof of identification to verify your account.
- Enter the Promo Code: During the registration process, strictly enter the promo code DENVER to opt into the welcome offer.
- Make a Deposit: Process a first-time deposit of at least $1 into your new Kalshi account.
- Start Trading: To unlock the $10 sign-up bonus, you must make a total of $10 worth of trades. You do not have to make a single trade worth $10; rather, you can accumulate a sum of $10 across multiple smaller trades. Once your total trade volume reaches $10, your sign-up bonus will be instantly available in your account.
With multiple exciting matchups on the schedule, simply follow these steps to secure your bonus and dive into the thrilling World Cup prediction markets available on Kalshi.
Denver, CO
Kalshi World Cup Promo Code DENVER: Claim $10 Trading Bonus for Any Match – Denver Stiffs
Sports fans can capitalize on Kalshi World Cup promo code DENVER and make $10 in trades to unlock $10 in bonuses. Click here to get in on the action.
Don’t miss out on the chance to grab this bonus for Saturday’s World Cup action. Brazil will take the field for the first time and Morocco is looking to spoil the party. New players who take advantage of this Kalshi promo will have a head start.
Kalshi World Cup Promo Code DENVER Unlocks $10 Bonus
| Kalshi Promo Code | DENVER |
|---|---|
| New Kalshi User Offer | $10 Sign-Up Bonus |
| Terms and Conditions | 18+ and Present in the US |
| Bonus Last Verified On | June 13, 2026 |
New Kalshi customers can secure a $10 sign-up bonus to use on the full slate of Round 1 World Cup matchups. Whether you are looking to make predictions on Brazil taking on Morocco or Haiti facing off against Scotland, users can apply the bonus on any of the scheduled World Cup matches. Kalshi’s unique prediction markets offer an exciting way to get involved in the action across the entire opening round of the tournament.
To claim this offer, eligible new users must make a first-time deposit of at least $1. The $10 bonus will be unlocked after the user has made $10 in trades on the platform’s prediction markets. Kalshi is legally available in all 50 states, and users must be at least 18 years old to play.
While this promotion is a great way to engage with international soccer, the platform’s offerings extend far beyond the pitch. Once registered, new users can also use their trades on a wide variety of prediction markets covering the NBA, NHL, and MLB, providing year-round action across all major professional sports.
World Cup Matches: Win Probabilities
When assessing the opening round fixtures, having a clear view of the potential outcomes can help guide your predictions. Brazil vs. Morocco is the marquee match of the weekend, but there are tons of options for fans. Take a look at the full schedule on Saturday:
- Switzerland vs. Qatar
- Brazil vs. Morocco
- Scotland vs. Haiti
- Turkiye vs. Australia
These win probabilities highlight the favorites and potential upsets on the current schedule, providing valuable insight before you lock in any trades. For new users, this data serves as a great starting point for deciding where to apply the $10 sign-up bonus provided by the Kalshi promo code. By placing $10 in trades on any of these specific World Cup prediction markets, eligible customers will unlock their welcome bonus while getting in on the tournament action.
How to Redeem Kalshi World Cup Promo Code DENVER
Securing your sign-up bonus is a straightforward process. Once activated, the $10 bonus is incredibly versatile—you can use it on ANY of the upcoming World Cup matches, or any World Cup match this week, rather than being restricted to just one game. Whether you want to focus your trades on Brazil taking on Morocco or Scotland’s matchup against Haiti, your welcome bonus can be utilized across the entire slate.
To activate the offer, follow these steps:
- Register an Account: Create and register your new account by entering standard personal information and providing proof of identification.
- Use the Promo Code: Be sure to enter the promo code DENVER during the registration process.
- Make a Deposit: Make a first-time deposit of at least $1 to fund your account.
- Place Your Trades: Make $10 worth of trades on Kalshi’s prediction markets. You do not have to make any single trade worth $10; simply accumulating a sum of $10 in total trades will fulfill the requirement.
As soon as your total trades reach the $10 threshold, your $10 sign-up bonus will be unlocked and available to use on your preferred World Cup markets.
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