The Nuggets’ offseason suddenly looks a lot different than it did a few weeks ago.
At one point, Denver appeared headed toward a cautious summer: let free agents leave, move a starter to trim money, make a run at bringing back Peyton Watson, and mostly keep the core intact. Then Nikola Jokic signaled he was not going to sign a contract extension, and LeBron James announced he was leaving the Lakers. Just like that, the Nuggets surfaced as a possible landing spot.
That shift has at least opened the door to a more aggressive approach. Denver now looks capable of spending, even to the point of bringing in James, keeping the roster together, and swallowing a huge luxury tax bill.
That would mark a major change in direction for the organization. But it also comes with a real risk: the Nuggets cannot afford to make LeBron the whole plan.
The common thread here is Rich Paul and Klutch Sports. Denver has added only one outside NBA player through trade or free agency, Marvin Bagley III.
It appears focused on retaining only one of its own free agents, Peyton Watson. And the one player it seems to be pursuing on the open market is James.
All three are Klutch clients.
There’s no reason to think James and Paul have no interest in Denver. But Paul’s job is bigger than one possible fit.
He is there to get his clients paid, and the Nuggets have already given Bagley a deal while also working on Watson. That makes this a delicate spot for Denver.
The danger is simple: the Nuggets cannot tie themselves too tightly to Klutch and hope James chooses them. They also can’t overcommit financially just to chase one name, then end up empty-handed. If that happens, they could be left with a roster that looks a lot like last season’s group, minus Jonas Valanciunas, Tim Hardaway Jr., and possibly Spencer Jones and Bruce Brown.
That kind of return would be hard to sell as enough to keep pace with the Thunder and Spurs moving forward. Denver clearly needs a jolt. The problem is making sure the search for it doesn’t leave the team boxed in for the rest of Jokic’s career.
In Other News...
Nuggets Just Got Their Final Answer On The Jokic Backup Plan
Jonas Valanciunas next stop is taking shape after a brief and unusual summer stretch in Denver. The veteran center, waived by the Nuggets while he weighed his NBA options, is now headed to a Zalgiris Kaunas roster that already features several players with NBA experience, giving the Lithuanian club a familiar kind of frontcourt credibility as it adds a proven big man.
For Denver, the move closes the book on the idea of Valanciunas as a backup answer behind Nikola Jokic, at least for now. The Nuggets had been trying to manage their roster and salary commitments carefully, and Valanciunas limited playoff role against Minnesota only underscored how little runway there was for the partnership to grow before the sides went separate ways. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets May Be Running Out Of Time To Keep Peyton Watson
Peyton Watsons rise has put the Nuggets in a familiar spot for a team trying to stay competitive while keeping the books under control. The young forward gave Denver real production last season, showing the kind of two-way value that makes a restricted free agent hard to replace, but also hard to fit if the price keeps climbing.
Because of those cap pressures, Denver is at least open to exploring a sign-and-trade rather than simply trying to match any offer sheet and hope for the best. The Clippers have surfaced as a possible partner in those talks, and while nothing is finalized, the idea underscores how quickly a promising homegrown piece can turn into a roster decision with real payroll consequences. [Read more 🡒]
Peyton Watsons Future Just Got Pulled Into The Kawhi Leonard Drama
Peyton Watsons future in Denver has suddenly been tied to a deal that has nothing to do with the Nuggets on the surface. The stalled Kawhi Leonard trade between Toronto and the Clippers is now casting a shadow over Watsons restricted free agency, because Los Angeles has interest in the young forward but needs the broader transaction with the Raptors to move forward in the way it wants.
Denver has made clear it is not interested in moving Watson cheaply, and the Clippers have not been eager to meet that price. Watsons breakout season was cut short by hamstring issues, but his value around the league has only grown, which is why the Nuggets were prepared to match outside interest. For now, though, the next step in his market may depend less on Denver than on whether the Raptors-Clippers deal finally gets unstuck. [Read more 🡒]