The long-term goal of the Denver Nuggets is to retain their core group.
Denver was “working toward” a max agreement with star guard Jamal Murray that would be for four years and $209 million, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic on Thursday.
As a result of the trade, Murray and star center Nikola Jokić, who helped the Nuggets win their first NBA title in 2023 in Denver, would remain under contract with the organization until the 2028 NBA season.
Murray currently seems committed to the Nuggets, but the franchise will probably see some changes in the upcoming summer. Charania wrote that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who averaged 31.6 minutes and 10.1 points per game for the Nuggets during the regular season, was going to turn down his player option and become a free agent shortly after he reported on Murray’s probable deal.
The Nuggets will be under pressure to match any offers Caldwell-Pope receives while exploring his free agency options, even if the news that he is declining his player option does not necessarily indicate he is leaving Denver.
In the event that he does decide to leave the Nuggets, Denver would have more time to pursue a new role player.
Given that Murray was unquestionably the second-most important player on a team that won an NBA championship, it is not surprising that he is receiving a max contract from Denver. The trade indicates that the Nuggets think he’s capable of winning again.
The 27-year-old Murray is currently in the peak of his career and has consistently shown himself to be one of the most reliable players in the NBA postseason. Even though Denver’s drive for the championship was just two years ago, a lot has happened in the NBA since then.
Even before the Nuggets won their championship, the Western Conference presented difficulties. It’s a full-fledged battleground now.
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s youthful core is expected to continue to improve, and they secured the top seed during the regular season of the previous year. With its three superstars, the Minnesota Timberwolves, who eliminated the Nuggets from the playoffs this season, will probably return. And there’s no way that NBA icons LeBron James and Stephen Curry will quit without making at least one last push for glory.
For the time being, the Nuggets think they can still be a major power in the West with a core lead by Murray and Jokić. If they are right, time will tell.
