The Nuggets took their time before deciding not to pick up Jalen Pickett’s team option for next season.

Denver used about as much time as possible ahead of Monday’s deadline before determining to let the 26-year-old reserve guard become a free agent. Pickett was due $2.4 million next season.

The 6-foot-2 guard was selected with the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 draft. He went on to appear in 126 regular-season games, starting 22, over his three seasons in Denver. He posted career highs in points (5.2), rebounds (2.3) and assists (2.3) per game last season but was not a regular member of Michael Malone or David Adelman’s playoff rotations.

Without Pickett, Jamal Murray is the only true point guard left on Denver’s roster before free agency unofficially begins Tuesday. Tyus Jones, whom Adelman played over Pickett in Denver’s first-round series against Minnesota, is an unrestricted free agent.