Denver Nuggets: 3 ways to replace Jamal Murray’s production this offseason

Denver Nuggets: Jamal Murray season replacements via free agency

The Denver Nuggets are right up against the cap entering free agency if we assume Will Barton picks up his Player Option and if Paul Millsap is re-signed at anything above the minimum.

If Barton does turn down his option, then yes, the Nuggets have a bit more money to throw around but then they’ll need to find a Barton replacement too.

Let’s assume that he picks it up and Millsap returns at a slightly above minimum number. The Nuggets are left with minimum contracts. So which veterans or unproven young players are out there as scoring guards?

As detailed in my offseason lessons from the Phoenix Suns piece, Austin Rivers has the inside track here. Coming in right after Jamal’s injury, he played well in the Portland series and was an okay facsimile for Murray. He’s not hurting defenses off the dribble like Murray did but he’s happy to catch-and-shoot and had some solid minutes with Jokic getting him open.

But because of that last point, the Nuggets might be able to dream a bit higher in terms of free agency. Jokic makes anyone look great, he’s one of the best passing big men in NBA history (if not the best) and spoon-feeds his teammates a few easy looks every night. Connelly mentioned this in his postseason press conference:

"“I don’t know how anybody would not want to play with Nikola. As good of a player as he is, he’s an even better guy. I think as more and more people have been exposed to just how genuine he is as a person, I think he’s got a ton of fans leaguewide, and certainly, as a player, the MVP award illustrates he’s as good as anybody in the world.”"

Some rotation-level guards on the free agent market who might want to join the Nuggets are Derrick Rose, Bryn Forbes, Lou Williams, Elfrid Payton, Cam Payne, Rodney Hood (non-guaranteed contract), Josh Richardson (Player Option), and Cory Joseph.

Some of those players might already be priced out of Denver’s range but what the Nuggets lack in salary, they more than make up in opportunity. Even without Jamal, the Nuggets beat the Portland Trail Blazers in six games. The player coming into this situation will either be starting or be the first guard off the bench for a Western Conference playoff team.

Building on that point, when Jamal returns late in the season or in time for the 2022 playoffs, there will still be a need to backup Murray or take over if he isn’t 100 percent.

Does a player like Rose or Lou Will want to make more money on their Eastern Conference playoff team or earn less on a Western Conference contender? The option will be there.