Nuggets make offer to Mbah a Moute
The Denver Nuggets are trying to make their first splash in the free agent pool. And it may not be the sexiest move, but it is the smartest.
Denver Post’s Benjamin Hochman is reporting that the Nuggets have offered Luc Mbah a Moute a four year deal worth a little over $19 million. Sources also told Hochman that the Milwaukee Bucks may not match.
If that is true, than the Nuggets are getting a steal at a good price. It also makes sense for the going price for good defenders. Chuck Hayes, another underrated defender, signed a four-year deal for $21 million with the Sacramento Kings which is substantially less than what Tyson Chandler, Nene and DeAndre Jordan are being offered.
Mbah a Moute, who is only 25, is one of the most underrated player in the NBA and if it wasn’t for the league’s obsession to hyping up LeBron James, Kobe Bryant or Dwyane Wade, Mbah a Moute would be an annual member of the All-Defensive Team.
If the Nuggets don’t resign Nene, Mbah a Moute would be penciled in as the Nuggets power forward and can do a lot of the similar things that Kenyon Martin did – only not as flashy.
Mbah a Moute also brings the hard working mentality from UCLA and hopefully can play along side his former UCLA teammate Arron Afflalo next season. Afflalo has yet to resign with Denver, but the Nuggets may be seeing what the go-ing price for Afflalo is before they seal a deal.
One thing that doesn’t hurt is Mbah a Moute was college teammates with Kevin Love at UCLA and unless Love signs an extension with the Minnesota Timbewolves, he will be the Nuggets top priority next offseason.
Also an update on the Nene situation, the Daily News in New Jersey reportedly increased their offer to $70 million for 4 years to Nene. Way too pricey for player of Nene’s caliber and it is a little surprising that he hasn’t accepted that deal yet.