Defending champion Nuggets retain two key free-agent veterans

The defending champion Nuggets are bringing back two of their free-agent veterans.

Point guard Reggie Jackson is staying in Denver on a two-year, $10.25M deal, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. Center DeAndre Jordan has also reached an agreement to remain with the Nuggets, Chris Haynes of TNT and the Bleacher Report notes.

Jackson, 33, has been in the league since 2011. He appeared in 16 regular-season games and six postseason contests for Denver after signing with the franchise as a free agent. He was bought out and waived by the Hornets after he was dealt by the Clippers at the trade deadline.

Jackson started 38 of 52 games for the Clippers prior to the trade. Denver has younger backcourt options off the bench behind Jamal Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, most notably Christian Braun and Peyton Watson, but Jackson won’t simply be an insurance policy.

The Nuggets, who lost Bruce Brown to the Pacers in free agency, are hopeful that Jackson can be more effective with a full offseason and training camp to adjust to their system and personnel, per Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports. His salary could also come handy in a potential trade down the road, Wind adds.

Jordan didn’t play much for the Nuggets — 39 regular-season appearances and four playoff cameos — but he’s a highly respected locker room and bench voice. He averaged 5.1 points and 5.2 rebounds in those regular-season games. He’ll be the third — or even fourth — option behind franchise player Nikola Jokic.