Northwest, OKC Thunder NBA FA Primer: Masters of the West

Denver Nuggets

Situation Entering Offseason:

No team enters this offseason with as much of their core intact coupled with solid depth than the Nuggets. This is partially due to the existing President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly and the man who spearheaded the initial shifts — yup, that’s Toronto Raptors Masai Ujiri.

That’s not to say the Nuggets are resting on their laurels or that they won’t try to improve upon their skyrocket up the Western Conference, especially with the Warriors injuries opening the door of potential this coming season.

Although the Nuggets were gutted losing Game 7 to the Blazers and failing to reach the Conference Finals it doesn’t tarnish last season’s accomplishments. Let’s not forget this squad with many of the same players lost out on reaching the playoffs in game 82 two seasons in a row!

The fact they were able to finish second in the West and push their second-round series to seven games has to be viewed as a massive success.

But, like most things those moments are fleeting and the Nuggets will need to return hungrier this coming season looking to take another step up the ladder.

With the trio of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and in a twist head coach Mike Malone the pieces are in place to take that next step.

Salary:

Cap Space: $ (37,268,052.00)
Floor Space: $ 27,889,436.00
Max Space: $ 16,949,071.00
Projected Space: $ 16,949,071.00

*as per Keith Smith of Real GM

Key free agents to re-sign

Although there were initial reports by Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report that the Nuggets would consider going after Harris if the 76ers didn’t offer the full max it would have necessitated renouncing Paul Millsap. Flash forward to less than 24 hours prior to the start of the NBA Free Agency Moratorium and that option (for now) is off the table as per Woj’s tweet below.

"Sub-max offers could be determining factors elsewhere as well. Tobias Harris, league sources said, is being offered less than a max contract by the Philadelphia 76ers, giving both the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets hope they can swoop in and lure him away. The Nuggets would have to renounce the rights to re-sign veteran power forward Paul Millsap, but a rival Western Conference executive said they appear willing to do that."

Aside from Millsap (which makes 13 solidified returnees on the club), there weren’t any must have Nuggets to retain on the list entering 2019 NBA Free Agency. Moreover, Denver may have last season red-shirted rookie Michael Porter Jr. available this season. That fact is notably particularly if he pans out to be what scouts expected prior to his back injury and two surgeries. And, just to add some flavor they’ve got Bol Bol who stands over 7 feet. Ahhh, the rich get richer.

Eventually, Denver will have to address contracts of their young stars (Murray will be a free agent next summer), but for now, they can basque in the glow of depth via solid drafting, trades, and choices made to build this roster.

2019 Roster Depth:

• Will Barton
• Malik Beasley
• Gary Harris
• Juancho Hernangomez
• Nikola Jokić
• Michael Porter Jr
• Monte Morris
• Jamal Murray
• Mason Plumlee
• Torrey Craig
• Jarred Vanderbilt
• Thomas Welsh

Draft Picks:

• Bol Bol

2019 free agents

Paul Millsap (Team formally picked up option)
Trey Lyles (Restricted)
Isaiah Thomas
Tyler Lydon
Brandon Goodwin (Restricted)

2020 free agents

Mason Plumlee
Jamal Murray (Restricted)
Juan Hernangomez (Restricted)
Torrey Craig (Restricted)
Malik Beasley (Restricted)
Thomas Welsh (Restricted)