Christian Braun has established himself as a valuable starting wing for the Denver Nuggets this season, but Michael Malone previously pushed to move the young player before his breakout. Sources tell Jake Fischer that Malone advocated for trading Braun prior to the 2024 trade deadline during the Nuggets' title defense, preferring to acquire a more established player in return. This revelation adds Braun to the list of players who have had to overcome being buried on Malone's bench before earning consistent minutes.
Denver ultimately kept Braun, who has since claimed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's former spot in the starting lineup. The decision has paid dividends for the Nuggets as Braun has flourished in his expanded role. The third-year player is currently averaging 15.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while maintaining an impressive shooting clip of nearly 40 percent from three-point range.
Braun's development represents a significant success story for Denver's player development pipeline, as he has transformed from a bench player into a reliable starter alongside the Nuggets' core stars. Braun becomes eligible for a contract extension this offseason.
