Denver Nuggets: 3 potential starting point guards to target in free agency

Finding the right starting point guard could be key to fully unlocking the Denver Nuggets’ potential.

While the Denver Nuggets have been one of the Western Conference’s top teams for awhile now, thanks to the breakout of star center Nikola Jokic, they haven’t been able to make a deep playoff run despite having the best assortment of talent that they’ve had in at least 10 years.

The obvious reasons why are the team’s inconsistent 3-point shooting (even from players who should be 3-point marksmen), their lackluster defense at the point guard position, their size on the perimeter and their ineffective transition offense. The key to solving most of those issues could be a reconfiguration of the team’s starting lineup.

Moving Jamal Murray to shooting guard

Looking at the starting five there are three players whose starting roles should be secured moving forward: Jamal Murray, Will Barton and Nikola Jokic. However, because Murray is actually a combo guard, that creates the potential for the Nuggets to look at moving him to shooting guard and finding a starting point guard.

Murray being a 2-guard would help him get more spot-up opportunities, which could stabilize his 3-point efficiency and improve the team’s defense at the 1. Finding a point guard who can improve the team’s play in transition would be a bonus but, whether they’re a high-volume or low-volume scorer, they can help the rest of the players get easier shots either by reducing the amount of defensive attention put on them or giving them more scoring opportunities.

Below are three players who will enter free agency this offseason and could put a bandaid over the team’s point guard position while they plan for a high-end starter to add to their backcourt or draft a prospect who could be that player for them.