NBA Intel: Christian Braun and Dyson Daniels extension talks, Bucks, Wizards

Heading into Monday’s 5:00 p.m. ET NBA roster cutdown deadline, HoopsHype has gathered the latest intel on extension talks surrounding Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun and Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, along with roster decisions ahead for the Milwaukee Bucks, and a former NBA player and college basketball star who’s transitioning into coaching with the Washington Wizards. 

Christian Braun and Nuggets nearing an extension? 

Heading into Monday’s extension deadline, there’s cautious optimism that a deal will get done between the Denver Nuggets and Christian Braun, league sources told HoopsHype.

Talks between the Nuggets and Braun’s representative, Bill Duffy of WME Sports, have centered on a five-year deal in the $115-125 million range, league sources told HoopsHype. 

Braun, who helped Denver win the 2023 NBA championship, averaged a career-high 15.4 points on a robust 58 percent shooting from the field overall and 39.7 percent beyond the arc as a full-time starter for the first time last season. 

The 24-year-old guard has also been durable, playing in 237 of 246 regular-season games during his three-year career. 

Where extension talks stand between Dyson Daniels and the Hawks 

Reigning NBA Most Improved Player, All-Defensive First Team selection, and steals champion Dyson Daniels and agent Daniel Moldovan have been seeking a five-year, $150 million deal during extension negotiations with the Atlanta Hawks, league sources told HoopsHype. 

However, the Hawks have been closer to a ballpark range of five years, $115 million, during negotiations, league sources told HoopsHype. 

Should Daniels enter the summer of 2026 as a restricted free agent, Atlanta would have the ability to match any offer sheet if another team tries to sign him. 

For context, Moldovan recently entered restricted free agency with Josh Giddey and eventually secured a four-year, $100 million deal with the Chicago Bulls this past offseason. 

Daniels is a career 32.7 percent shooter from behind the arc during his three-year career. After shooting a career-high 34 percent from downtown last season, Daniels could gamble on improving his outside shooting again this season. If he shoots closer to 37 percent or better, that would be an x-factor that would significantly enhance his market value towards his desired salary range. 

It’s also worth noting that Atlanta added Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard this offseason, which could affect Daniels’ playing time. 

Alexander-Walker’s playmaking and scoring, along with Kennard’s shooting, provide more offensive punch compared to Daniels, who’s a superior defender compared to both players. 

That skillset flexibility will give Hawks coach Quin Snyder more options to close games down the stretch if needed. 

Bucks: What’s next for Amir Coffey, Tyler Smith and Andre Jackson Jr.?

Milwaukee Bucks guard Amir Coffey has secured a roster spot heading into the season opener, league sources told HoopsHype. 

Coffey is coming off the best season of his career, where he averaged 9.7 points on 47 percent shooting from the field and 41 percent from downtown in 72 games with the Los Angeles Clippers. 

Bucks coach Doc Rivers was Coffey’s coach as a rookie on the Clippers and pushed for the lefty sharpshooting swingman to make the roster, league sources told HoopsHype. 

Thus, Milwaukee was deliberating between parting ways with either Tyler Smith or Andre Jackson Jr., with one roster spot left. 

Over the weekend, the Bucks gauged the trade market on Smith, league sources told HoopsHype. Should Milwaukee not find a suitable trade partner before Monday’s 5:00 p.m. ET roster cutdown deadline, Smith is expected to be waived, league sources said. 

Smith, who turns 21 years old on November 2nd, was the 33rd overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft and played in 23 games for the Bucks last season. 

As a result, Jackson Jr. is in line to have his $2.2 million salary fully guaranteed for the 2025-26 season after a competitive training camp battle, league sources told HoopsHype. He earned the trust of Bucks coach Doc Rivers and started 43 of 67 games last season. 

Former NBA player transitions to coaching 

The Washington Wizards have added Shabazz Napier as a coaching apprentice, league sources told HoopsHype. Former NBA player transitions to coaching The Washington Wizards have added Shabazz Napier as a coaching apprentice, league sources told HoopsHype. 

Napier averaged 7.1 points in six NBA seasons with the Heat, Magic, Trail Blazers, Nets, Timberwolves, and Wizards. Beforehand, Napier was a two-time NCAA champion at UConn. 

The apprentice program is a player development program rooted in developing aspiring coaches under Wizards head coach Brian Keefe. 

You can follow Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Blue Sky (@MikeAScotto). 

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: NBA Intel: Christian Braun and Dyson Daniels extension talks, Bucks, Wizards