Few groups have had as robust of an offseason because the Denver Nuggets. They traded starter Michael Porter Jr. and changed him with 4 rotation gamers, together with including a backup heart.
The Nuggets have already got Jonas Valanciunas at backup heart, they usually simply received clarification about his future with the crew. Nonetheless, Chicago Bulls heart Nikola Vucevic could turn out to be accessible on the buyout market. And if Valanciunas is not figuring out, then the Nuggets might be a darkish horse crew to signal him through the season.
Whereas that would not be capable of supply him a beginning position with Nikola Jokic clearly filling that, they may pay him greater than different contenders might. In any case, they nonetheless have full entry to their $14.1 million mid-level exception.
The Nuggets would not use all of it, however they may use between $5 million and $7 million of it to try to lure him to Denver.
Does Nikola Vucevic make sense for the Denver Nuggets?
Whether or not Vucevic is smart for the Nuggets depends upon how good (or dangerous) Valanciunas is. Valanciunas was a longtime starter however will settle into a job as a low-minutes backup heart.
If he can crash the glass, rating within the paint, and hit the occasional three, then he ought to be greater than positive backing up Jokic. He ought to nonetheless have sufficient within the tank to do this, although the drama surrounding him doubtlessly signing with a Greek crew raises questions.
He confirmed that he’ll play for the Nuggets subsequent season, however will his coronary heart be in it? If it isn’t then, he might battle to fill a small however extremely precious position for Denver. That is the place Vucevic might doubtlessly are available in.
Vucevic may not be the one buyout candidate for the Nuggets
Despite the fact that he has his defensive limitations, he was wildly productive final season for the Chicago Bulls. He posted almost 19 factors per sport and in addition averaged 10.1 rebounds and drilled 40.2% from three.
Usually these participant varieties can be out of the Nuggets attain. However he’s 34 and a half years previous, and the Bulls have didn’t commerce him regardless of him being on the block for greater than a yr. If Valanciunas falls flat and Vucevic is purchased out, then the Nuggets might and may scoop him up.
Nonetheless, if Valanciunas does work out, then the Nuggets is likely to be higher served pursuing one other buyout candidate, Malcolm Brogdon. He’d give Denver a pure backup level guard and has traditionally been a terrific shooter, doubtlessly filling two wants for the minimal.
All in all, the Nuggets have choices in case one among their low season strikes would not work out. In that case, Vucevic or Brogdan would make good sense for Denver.
