Denver missed the window to lock up DaRon Holmes. The rookie‑scale option for 2027‑28 expired, meaning Holmes will hit unrestricted free agency next summer instead of collecting a guaranteed $5,547,137 salary. Will his free‑agency leap reshape the roster?
The franchise had chased the former Dayton forward fiercely in 2024, trading three second‑rounders to climb from No. 28 to No. 22 and select him. Weeks later, Holmes suffered a torn Achilles in a Summer League game, derailing the plan.
An Achilles tear erased his entire debut season, and when he finally returned in 2025‑26 he saw limited action, appearing in just 25 games and posting 3.7 points and 1.4 rebounds in 8.4 minutes per night. This fall he’s logged only five minutes across two outings.
He posted impressive G League numbers, averaging 20.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 22 games for Grand Rapids. Yet limited NBA usage, the rise of rookie forward Trevon Brazile, and Denver’s cap constraints make the decline inevitable, in my view.
As long as Denver keeps him on the roster, they retain his Bird rights for next summer, though they cannot exceed the declined option amount. That restriction would follow him if traded, but it won’t hinder other suitors.
With Holmes’ case settled, the league now knows the fate of all 59 players who held rookie‑scale options for 2027‑28, according to our tracker. Which overlooked talent will emerge as a surprise free‑agent target?