Nuggets miss out on Jonathon Simmons in NBA free agency

The Denver Nuggets missed out on landing Jonathon Simmons who reportedly signed a three year deal with the Orlando Magic.

The search for the Danilo Gallinari replacement continues for the Denver Nuggets. After a glimmer of hope came through for Denver possibly landing Jonathon Simmons, you can read more about it in an article by my co-editor Tom West here, Simmons had already found a new home.

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He is staying down south, but moving on to the Orlando Magic. This is a solid move for the Magic as they have been in the rebuild process ever since the Dwight Howard trade. Simmons is a versatile wing presence who can do a bit of everything and could still get better. Not to mention, the tutelage of Gregg Popovich will also be beneficial.

Simmons would have been a great fit in Denver. A front court consisting of Jokic, Millsap and Simmons would have been extremely dynamic. However, the flip side is that he may have been too expensive. Denver is already crowded on their roster as they still have players in the rotation like Kenneth Faried, Darrell Arthur and now newly added pieces in Trey Lyles and Tyler Lydon. All of which will have to battle for minutes depending on if Denver makes a trade or not.

Simmons could have been a great Gallo replacement though considering his versatility. In hindsight, the Nuggets would have replaced the scoring production from the wing, which they will get plenty of in other positions, with somewhat of another Swiss army knife at the wing. What I mean is much like Wilson Chandler, Jonathon Simmons would have been able to do a lot of little things for Denver needed to win games.

Next: Denver should sign Torrey Craig

Denver missed out on a young and developing San Antonio prospect and it is somewhat of a shame considering how much more dynamic Simmons could have made the Nuggets’ rotation.