Nuggets Free Agency Targets: Jonathon Simmons signing is ‘imminent’
By Tom West
Jonathon Simmons making his NBA free agency decision is “imminent”, but it doesn’t look like the Denver Nuggets are one of the teams in front to get him.
We could see San Antonio Spurs free agent Jonathon Simmons make his NBA free agency decision by the weekend. And after the Spurs withdrew his $1.6 million qualifying offer and reports surfaced that he’s been talking to several other teams, it looks like he’ll be signing elsewhere. Unfortunately for fans eager to get him, though, it doesn’t look like the Denver Nuggets will be that team.
According to David Aldridge, a Simmons signing is imminent… We just don’t know where yet.
Strong interest in Jonathan Simmons, now a UFA after Spurs pulled QO. A couple of teams in front; decision could come by the weekend.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) July 13, 2017
Source says Jonathan Simmons signing is “imminent."
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) July 14, 2017
So, yeah, it doesn’t look good, Nuggets fans. There haven’t been any reports to reveal that the team is pursuing Simmons either, so the idea of signing him is just that: an idea, not a likelihood.
The biggest reason, even if the Nuggets were highly interested, is an asking price that’s too high for the team’s lack of cap space.
This is basically a non report of the Dallas Mavericks maybe thinking about pursuing Simmons, via Mike Fisher of CBS Sports, but the “seems pricy” note is at least an inkling that Simmons is going to be expensive.
I'm told #Mavs are continuing to weigh the merit of a Jonathan Simmons pursuit. Seems pricy. Stay tuned.
— fishsports ✭ (@fishsports) July 13, 2017
Again, this and Aldridge’s report hint that the Nuggets won’t be landing Simmons, even though we don’t know the “couple of teams” in front that Aldridge mentioned.
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The Nuggets would have needed to make a trade and dump a salary to create enough room, seeing as they only have $1.94 million in cap space. That’s not enough for Simmons, who shouldn’t be overpaid as a 28-year-old with three-point issues, but has fully earned a pay rise thanks to his improved ball handling/playmaking ability and impressive defensive impact and athleticism.
With a signing being imminent, it’s hard to see that the Nuggets are suddenly going to make a trade to clear the salary of someone like Kenneth Faried or Darrell Arthur (which he haven’t heard any more about) and agree to a contract with Simmons.
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However, it’s not like everyone in Denver can’t still be thrilled with how free agency turned out. New All-Star Paul Millsap looks pretty good with his skyline jersey.