The Denver Nuggets are facing huge financial constraints as they try to revamp their bench. As a result, the Nuggets are looking for cheap veteran options to fill their rotation.
One option that has emerged for the Nuggets is Alpha Diallo, who played for French club AS Monaco this past season. According to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews, the Nuggets are among the teams pursuing Diallo.
“The Denver Nuggets are targeting one of the EuroLeague’s premier defenders,” Urbonas said. “According to BasketNews sources, the Nuggets are showing a strong interest in Alpha Diallo.”
Nuggets Among NBA Teams Pursuing Premier EuroLeague wing Defenders, Decision Is Forthcoming
Diallo is a versatile, high-leverage, high-motor, lengthy wing who is coming off a career year and was named the EuroLeague’s Defensive Player of the Year. Diallo thrives as a point-of-attack defender who is very active and can lock down his checks (1-through-4). He also has good instincts and solid IQ.
Offensively, Diallo does his best work off the ball and in the paint. Diallo is an excellent cutter and very good in transition. He is highly efficient around the rim due to his athleticism.
While Diallo improved his 3-point shooting this past season, he remains unreliable. Plus, he is not a creator or playmaker.
Diallo averaged 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds (1.4 offensive), 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals. The Denver (CO) native knocked down 1.1 threes with shooting splits of 50.1/33.5/76.4. He scored in double figures in 50 of his 77 appearances with six games of 20+ points.
Diallo was under contract with Monaco through 2028, but the 29-year-old transferred to Dubai this offseason for $750,000 as Monaco is going through financial issues. Founded in 2023, Dubai Basketball won the Adriatic League this past season for the first time after finishing third in its inaugural campaign. Dubai also went 19-19 in the EuroLeague, though they missed the playoffs after finishing 11th.
Diallo has an NBA exit clause that ends on July 15.
Why Denver Wants Alpha Diallo
First and foremost, the Nuggets need to add inexpensive players to their 15-man roster. Denver has 11 players under contract for the upcoming season and is already over the first apron by $6.2 million. As a result, the Nuggets currently owe $28.4 million in tax payments for 2026-27 because they are tax repeaters. They have five players making $20 million or more, with both Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray making over $50 million.
Denver is reportedly still interested in retaining restricted free agent Peyton Watson, though the Nuggets have also made him available in trades. Watson has a $6.5 million qualifying offer on the table. The Nuggets also believe they have a legitimate chance at signing LeBron James.
The Nuggets won 50 games for the fourth straight season (54-28) but were upset by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. Their biggest issue all season long was their defense, ranking 21st in defensive rating. Ayo Dosunmu and Jaden McDaniels had a huge series against them in the playoffs.
If Denver and Diallo come to an agreement, which is probably unlikely, Diallo would figure to fill Watson’s 6th-man role. Diallo would immediately become the Nuggets’ top defender, assuming Watson doesn’t return, and would immediately be tasked with matching up with the opponent’s best offensive player. Now, if the Nuggets could somehow have both Diallo and Watson on the roster, they could be legitimate contenders. Watson would project to start in this scenario.
Diallo would also fill a need for the Nuggets: switchable wings around Jokic. Diallo is also experienced and has played in the second- or third-best league in the world for the past five seasons. He signed with Greek club GS Lavrio after going undrafted out of Providence.
The Nuggets could free up some money by trading Cameron Johnson or Christian Braun, and that may still happen. But that would only magnify their need for help on the wing.
While there’s no word on whether other teams are interested in Diallo, it would make sense that others are. Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, Washington, and Toronto all have at least one open roster spot.
Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
