While August is typically a very quiet month around the NBA, the Denver Nuggets have had a busy week as we approach September. With training camp just over a month away, the Nuggets officially parted with restricted free agent Peyton Watson and followed it up by signing six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan to a one-year contract.DeRozan is not a one-for-one replacement for Watson, but there are certainly reasons for the Nuggets to be excited about the addition. By bringing in DeRozan, the Nuggets not only get one of the best mid-range scorers in NBA history, but they also get an experienced veteran and playmaker to greatly improve their depth, which has been a major concern this offseason.DeRozan now fills the Nuggets' 14th standard contract, meaning they could technically go the rest of the offseason without making a move. However, we should not expect Denver to be completely done just yet. Here's a look at what might come next for the Nuggets:A trade incoming?The Nuggets will incur a $2.4M cap hit on DeRozanThey now have 14 players on guaranteed contracts.Projected tax penalty is $75M$3.15M above the 2nd apron https://t.co/WWJITlcPmJ— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) August 21, 2026By signing DeRozan, the Nuggets are now about $3 million above the second apron with a projected tax penalty of $75 million, per ESPN's Bobby Marks. Denver's financial status is exactly why they had to let go of Watson, and it could lead to another roster change.Obviously, the Nuggets do not want to pay $75 million in tax penalties. Not to mention, the consequences of being a second-apron team can really hurt roster construction, and the Nuggets are the only team in the NBA dealing with it right now.Ideally, the Nuggets are able to find a trade before the season starts to shave some money from their books and get below the second apron. The obvious trade candidate is Zeke Nnaji, although parting with the former first-round pick is always easier said than done.If the Nuggets don’t find some way to salary dump Zeke Nnaji without attaching a pick to him (which I do think would be pretty tough), this offseason will feel disastrous.— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) August 20, 2026Nnaji has two years left on his deal, worth just under $7.5 million each, including a 2027-28 player option. Sure, just the final two years of his initial four-year, $32 million deal make him much more tradeable than he was in the past, but the Nuggets would still have to attach more valuable assets in a package to convince a team to take on that salary.After the Watson trade, the Nuggets now have one tradeable first-round pick and a handful of second-round picks, but with such limited draft capital, it would sting to use any valuable pick to get off Nnaji's contract. Especially if they have to use a first-round pick, they would immediately lose any value they just received from trading Watson.Will they fill the 15th roster spot?While the Nuggets can go into the 2026-27 season with just 14 rostered players, their depth would greatly benefit from adding a 15th player into the mix, especially if they can find a guard to fit into the rotation. Salary does not factor in the non-guaranteed contract of Lonnie Walker.I would expect Denver to carry 14 players to start the season. pic.twitter.com/LFt5tvqtLh— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) August 21, 2026However, with their financial situation, unless they can make a money-saving move like trading Nnaji, they will likely hold off on signing another player. Keep in mind, the Nuggets signed Lonnie Walker IV to a training camp deal, so if they were to use their 15th standard contract, we would likely see them give it to him, which would help with their lack of guard depth.Unless the Nuggets are able to dump salary or surprisingly want to increase their luxury tax bill even further, this is likely the 14-man roster we will see for the 2026-27 season. We should expect the Nuggets to follow up this DeRozan signing with a salary-dumping move, but it is just so much easier said than done. Do not be shocked if the Nuggets have to wait until further into the season to find a viable money-saving trade to get under the second apron. Sign up for our free Denver Nuggets On SI newsletter, and get breaking Nuggets news delivered to your inbox daily!Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow