It’s one week into NBA Free Agency and the list of suitable available players is growing smaller by the day.
With the Philadelphia 76ers reportedly in the process of signing Nik Stauskas and two others to clear cap space, the Denver Nuggets are one of the last teams to make any moves in the free agency market. Just as the head coach search in Denver was a very slow-moving and deliberate process, so too is the rebuilding process proving to be.
Unless head coach Michael Malone and his new staff plans on in-housing all of his talent through “player development,” the Nuggets must get on the ball in acquiring capable players, especially in the backcourt, before its too late.
It’s obviously not forgotten that with the seventh pick in the Draft, Denver scored with highly-praised Emmaunel Mudiay. Although he has a year of pro experience playing overseas in China, it will be a tough task to ask a rookie point guard to come in and lead a rebuilding team to victories – let alone the playoffs. And with the Nuggets second pick, Nikola Radicevic, another point man from Serbia, bringing in a veteran at the one or two should be top priority for Denver.
Because the Nuggets don’t have much salary cap space, trading Ty Lawson would be ideal to free up room giving them an opportunity to procure a more-experienced talent for the young backcourt.
Denver has until July 11 to decide on the non-guaranteed $3.1 million deal for Randy Foye, their current number two guard. The Nuggets are likely to keep Foye’s services, having not drafted a two guard and although he is not the best shooter, Foye has done well defensively. Having second-year player Gary Harris backing him up may be a good duo combining experience with talent.
Among the best available free agent guards are Allen Anderson, Aaron Brooks, Norris Cole, C.J. Watson and Jason Terry, all who stand out as ideal fits for Denver.
Each has five-plus years in the Association and is a proven shooter that would provide a great veteran presence. Luckily, the demeanor of such players are “happy to play wherever needed” and shouldn’t have a problem sharing the limelight with young proteges. The question is whether or not any of them would have a desire to be part of a full-fledged rebuilding process.
Denver currently hasn’t shown any public interest in any of the above players but has mentioned its endorsement of some of their own. According to the Denver Post, both Jameer Nelson and Will Barton are top priorities in free agent re-signings for the Nuggets.
Excerpt from Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post:
Topping the Nuggets’ to-do list is re-signing guards Jameer Nelson and Will Barton. Both played a huge role in stabilizing things on and off the court for a Nuggets team going through a turbulent season until early March, when coach Brian Shaw was fired.
Nelson, a veteran unrestricted free agent, opted out of the last year of his contract this past June but the Nuggets still hope to resign him. Last season in Denver, he averaged 9.6 points and 3.7 assists in 34 games shooting 45 percent from the field. With he and Barton upping their field goal percentages in addition to their low price tags, they remain as top targets for Denver.
The Nuggets still have guards Erick Green, Harris and Jaamal Franklin on their roster who we’ll all see in summer league play July 10-13 in Las Vegas.
Mike Tolbert, a Mile High Sports intern and MSU-Denver student, contributed to this report
