The Denver Nuggets are reportedly interested in adding young point guard Ryan Nembhard after the Charlotte Hornets waived him ahead of NBA training camp.
Nembhard, 23, became available after a busy offseason that sent him through several organizations. He spent his rookie NBA season with the Dallas Mavericks before Dallas traded him to the Atlanta Hawks.
Atlanta then sent Nembhard, Buddy Hield and cash considerations to Charlotte in exchange for veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith. Charlotte was not expected to keep Nembhard for long and officially waived him on September 26.
Denver appears to be one of the teams interested in giving him another opportunity.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Nuggets are among several teams interested in signing Nembhard to a two-way contract if he clears waivers. A deal like that could give him another chance to continue developing while remaining close to an NBA roster.
Nembhard went undrafted in 2025, but he showed during his rookie season that he could contribute.
He appeared in 60 games for Dallas and started 27 of them. He averaged 6.6 points, 5.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds while playing 19.5 minutes per game. He shot 41.5 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from three-point range.
His assist numbers were especially impressive for an undrafted rookie. Nembhard showed that he could run an offense and create scoring opportunities for teammates when he received additional playing time.
One of his best performances came against Denver.
Nembhard scored a career-high 28 points against the Nuggets on December 1, 2025. He also handed out 10 assists while making 12 of 14 shots from the field and four of five shots from three-point range.
Denver may remember that performance well.
Nembhard also produced a remarkable 23-assist game against the Chicago Bulls late in the season. He finished that game with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Performances like those help explain why teams remain interested in him even though he is only 5 feet 11 inches tall. His size can create defensive problems against larger guards, but Nembhard has shown strong court vision, speed and an ability to create shots for other players.
That could make him an interesting development option for Denver.
The Nuggets have already been active with their two-way roster spots. Denver recently signed Cam Whitmore to a two-way contract. Whitmore was selected in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft and has already played more than 100 NBA games.
Adding Nembhard would give Denver another young player with NBA experience, but there is a complication. Denver already has its available two-way positions filled, so the team would need to make another roster move before offering Nembhard that type of contract.
The Nuggets could also consider another type of deal depending on how their roster develops during training camp.
Nothing has been announced between Denver and Nembhard. For now, the Nuggets are simply one of several teams reportedly interested in him.
That interest makes sense as Denver looks for additional depth in the backcourt. Jamal Murray remains one of the most important players on the roster, while Denver also has veteran Tyus Jones and other guards competing for playing time.
Nembhard could provide another ball handler if injuries occur or if the Nuggets want additional playmaking off the bench.
Two-way contracts are designed for players in situations like this. They allow teams to develop players while moving them between the NBA roster and the G League. Players on two-way deals can spend significant time with an NBA team, although there are limits involving games and postseason eligibility.
For Nembhard, such a deal could provide another chance to establish himself in the league.
He already took an unusual route to the NBA. Nembhard played college basketball at Creighton before transferring to Gonzaga, where he became one of the team's primary playmakers.
He was not selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, but Dallas gave him an opportunity. Nembhard turned that chance into meaningful playing time and several strong performances during his rookie season.
Now he is looking for another opportunity after two offseason trades and a waiver.
That kind of movement can be difficult for a young player, but Nembhard has something many players fighting for roster spots do not have. He has already shown that he can produce in NBA games.
Denver's reported interest suggests his rookie season caught the attention of teams around the league.
Training camp often gives players on the edge of NBA rosters an opportunity to change the direction of their careers. Nembhard could soon get another one.
Whether that opportunity comes with Denver remains uncertain. For now, he must clear waivers before the Nuggets or another interested team can make its next move.