Find out which 10 minimum contract free agents the Denver Nuggets should sign this summer in order to strengthen their squad and stay in the running for the championship.
Following a thrilling playoff run in the NBA 2023–24 season, the Denver Nuggets are about to enter a crucial summer. The Nuggets, who were playing for a championship title, lost Game 7 of their exhausting seven-game series against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals, 98-90. The Nuggets failed to duplicate their prior postseason success, even though they ended as the second seed in the regular season.
The Nuggets have serious financial difficulties. They are $19.6 million over the luxury tax threshold and $70.7 million over the salary cap with total cap allocations of about $211.7 million. Important players with high salary demands, such Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., Nikola Jokic, and Jamal Murray, restrict the team’s ability to make significant additions. Murray and Porter Jr. are expected to earn $36 million and $35.9 million, respectively, while Jokic alone is expected to get $51.4 million.
Denver needs to aim to acquire depth through free agents with minimum contracts in order to remain competitive. This plan is crucial in light of the probable exits of supporting players like Reggie Jackson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who both have player options that they might exercise. The Nuggets can strengthen their squad and continue to be title contenders without further straining their budget by focusing on underappreciated players and seasoned veterans who are prepared to take minimum contracts.
Find out which 10 minimum contract free agents the Denver Nuggets should sign this summer in order to strengthen their squad and stay in the running for the championship.
Following a thrilling playoff run in the NBA 2023–24 season, the Denver Nuggets are about to enter a crucial summer. The Nuggets, who were playing for a championship title, lost Game 7 of their exhausting seven-game series against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals, 98-90. The Nuggets failed to duplicate their prior postseason success, even though they ended as the second seed in the regular season.
The Nuggets have serious financial difficulties. They are $19.6 million over the luxury tax threshold and $70.7 million over the salary cap with total cap allocations of about $211.7 million. Important players with high salary demands, such Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., Nikola Jokic, and Jamal Murray, restrict the team’s ability to make significant additions. Murray and Porter Jr. are expected to earn $36 million and $35.9 million, respectively, while Jokic alone is expected to get $51.4 million.
Denver needs to aim to acquire depth through free agents with minimum contracts in order to remain competitive. This plan is crucial in light of the probable exits of supporting players like Reggie Jackson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who both have player options that they might exercise. The Nuggets can strengthen their squad and continue to be title contenders without further straining their budget by focusing on underappreciated players and seasoned veterans who are prepared to take minimum contracts.
2. Daniel Theis
The 2023–24 season was an exciting one for Daniel Theis. Known for his tireless efforts on the court and strong defence, Theis made a name for himself with the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 6.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists a contest. In his limited minutes, he performed admirably on the boards and as a dependable player off the bench.
His services would be extremely beneficial to the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets’ defensive plan now heavily relies on guys who can play many positions and are versatile, which is a wonderful fit for Theis. His ability to snag rebounds and play strong interior defence closes a huge vacuum in Denver’s lineup by enabling them to help Nikola Jokic when he’s on the bench.
It is also known that Theis is susceptible to a number of defence mechanisms. With him, the Nuggets might tighten up a spot that becomes problematic during their postseason run, and he could readily adapt to various offensive positions. In a similar vein, his mid-range shooting and infrequent three-pointers will spread the floor, which is another crucial component of Denver’s offensive strategy to allow Jokic and Murray more space to operate with.
Furthermore, Theis offers a squad hoping for a championship a tonne of priceless playoff experience. Apart from mentoring young players in the locker room, he will assist the club in maintaining its consistent performance during intense postseason matches. This is his value since Denver’s cap situation is very set in stone and excellent players like Theis can significantly improve the roster on small-yield contracts without putting a hardship on their budget.
3. Dario Saric
Dario Saric played 64 games for the Golden State Warriors in 2023–24, averaging 8.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. His ability to stretch the floor as a shooting big man and his contributions off the bench gave the Warriors much-needed depth.
Dario Saric is a player who the Denver Nuggets should definitely add to their squad. Recognised for his adaptability, Saric can operate as a stretch four in addition to playing forward, which is essential for the Nuggets’ offensive spacing. Because of his ability to shoot three points, defences are forced to play cautiously, which keeps Nikola Jokic from getting open in the paint. Denver’s offensive flow depends on this spacing, which gives Jamal Murray and Jokic more space to manoeuvre and make plays.
Saric’s ability to move the ball and make moves that often fit the various positions on the squad that depend on rapid passes and quick offence is another asset to the Denver system. He also passes the ball well. Furthermore, he is extremely versatile due to his background in multiple systems and expertise in the system at many spots, which is likely even more crucial when called upon by a Denver team that has a genuine shot at winning a title.
Denver can score more points in the paint thanks to Saric’s perimeter ability while Aaron Gordon drops back to guard. He fills in as Denver’s reliable scorer outside of the paint, ensuring that the Nuggets consistently have bench production. His basketball knowledge and IQ are generally soothing, but they also have a significant impact at key times.
4. Victor Oladipo
Another season marred Victor Oladipo’s career, which had been plagued by a debilitating knee ailment for the majority of his previous few years. In fact, Oladipo tore his left patellar tendon in the first round of the 2023 playoffs while playing for the Miami Heat against the Milwaukee Bucks. Due to that injury, he was unable to play for the remainder of the season, which raised severe concerns about his status going into the following season.
Even still, it would be fascinating to see how Oladipo may fit into Denver. He’s more renowned for his ability to create his own opportunities and play tough defence, which might provide the Nuggets’ backcourt much-needed spark. That past All-Star experience, where rotational minutes were strategically managed to avoid more injuries, is priceless.
Being a multifaceted player, Oladipo would be a perfect match for the Denver Nuggets. His ability to guard certain positions turns his defensive prowess into something crucial, providing Denver with a superior wingman to go along with Jamal Murray. The Nuggets now have two extremely potent options that are essential for making it far into the postseason.
He is a creator in his own right on offence and is generally considered to be the third or fourth ball handler behind Nikola Jokic and Aaron Murray. His ability to shoot from a distance and drive into the paint gives the Denver office a new perspective. Despite fluctuating shooting percentages as a result of injuries, Oladipo has established himself as a reliable scorer when fit.
With a veteran’s minimum contract, Oladipo may be an experienced guard who adds scoring, playmaking and defence to the Nuggets’ lineup off the bench. In addition, his playing background may provide extremely crucial leadership to a championship-chasing Nuggets squad.
5. Kris Dunn
With the Utah Jazz, Kris Dunn put up a steady season of 5.4 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.9 rebounds across 66 games. Dunn is valuable because he can handle the offence when necessary and is a capable defensive player even though his scoring stats may not scream out at you.
Dunn established himself as a dependable presence off the bench for Utah throughout the season. When he guarded the top perimeter players on the other side, his defensive prowess was evident. The Jazz’s entire defensive plan was strengthened by his dedication to defence and his talent for disorienting the opposition.
The Denver Nuggets would benefit greatly from having Kris Dunn on staff, especially given his versatility and skill on defence. Dunn’s versatility as a ball handler and guard may be very helpful to Denver, especially with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray leading the way. His emphasis on defence would provide much-needed balance to the club, balancing out Jokic and Murray’s scoring prowess.
Due to his versatility, Dunn can play both guard positions, giving Denver’s rotations more depth and adaptability. He might replace Murray, making sure that his ability to handle the ball and create plays doesn’t significantly decline. In games against teams that have great guard play, his defensive perseverance would be especially important in assisting Denver in better containing the opposition’s threats.
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