After a season in which he saw the most playing time in his young career, the Denver Nuggets have reportedly decided to decline guard Jalen Pickett's team option ahead of the 2026-2027 season. 

Pickett finished this past season averaging 5.2 points per game, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists on 42.2 percent shooting from the floor. The Nuggets drafted Picket 32nd overall in 2023, and now he will look to find a new home this summer. 

Pickett saw a lot of playing time in games where we didn't see the Nuggets' core four of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Christian Braun, but when the roster was relatively healthy, he wasn't a focal point for the team. 

He finished the season averaging 16.1 minutes played per game, and that number has increased every year he's been in the NBA. 

Jalen Pickett has shown flashes of being a viable option coming off the bench for the Nuggets in the limited time he was on the court. Pickett had a 29-point game against the Philadelphia 76ers in what was a thrilling overtime win in early January. 

This was one of those games where the Nuggets were undermanned and beat a 76ers team with Joel Embiid on the court, and Pickett led the charge. What stood out in his performance was his three-point shooting, finishing the game 7-11 from downtown. 

The downside of Jalen Pickett's 2025-2026 season was his inconsistency. Pickett's 29-point effort was the only time he scored at least 20 points or more in a game this past season, and while he showed he's a capable shooter, it wasn't enough for Denver to bring him back. 

The Nuggets are also undergoing salary cap issues. It's been reported in the past that the team may look into trading Cameron Johnson or Christian Braun, as those are two guys who are on bigger contracts and haven't moved the needle for Denver in recent seasons. 

Pickett is still just 26 years old, and there is a chance he can find another home quickly this summer. There could be a market for Pickett given his age and his shooting ability. He won't be a highly coveted free agent, so contending teams may pursue the guard on a cheaper contract. 

Teams like the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, or Los Angeles Lakers may choose to pursue Pickett this summer if they want to add a shooter on a cheap deal.