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Does Nuggets’ Jamal Murray deserve a super-max contract?

By Quinn Minnich

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 19: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets warms up before a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena on October 19, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 19: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets warms up before a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena on October 19, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
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With the Denver Nuggets trying to compete for as many years as possible, having players down for long-term contracts is necessary to maintain the core group. As for Denver’s star point guard, Jamal Murray has only two years left on his contract, so he is extension eligible as of now.

If Jamal Murray makes an All-NBA team or makes the All-Star team, he will be eligible for a super-max contract. Murray definitely has the chance to be an All-Star this season, especially considering the amount of respect he’s gained winning an NBA title as the second best player.

The Denver Nuggets will be really cash-strapped soon. Michael Porter Jr. is already making a max deal, and Murray is as well. Nikola Jokic got the biggest contract in NBA history before Jaylen Brown’s contract in Boston. Aaron Gordon has a really valuable contract, but $22.6 million this season is still a good chunk of money.

Let’s just assume Jamal Murray makes the All-Star team this season. That would give him the eligibility to get a super-max contract. Would he deserve a super-max if he is eligible for it?

That’s not an easy question to answer. Nikola Jokic was given his super-max as soon as he could sign it, and that makes sense. He’s the best player in the NBA and has proven to be a winning player. Anything less than the super-max would be insulting to Jokic and his basketball skills.

Jamal Murray is different. He’s never made an All-Star appearance, and he isn’t a lock to make it this season. Sure, the only way he can get a super-max is if he makes the All-Star team or an All-NBA team, but even if he makes it, it’s hard to say if he’ll get all of that money.

Murray is eligible for a three year, $141 million extension now. Chances are, he’s not going to agree to sign it because he’ll probably want to wait until next summer to sign an extension and potentially get the super-max.

Having two super-max caliber contracts on the books for the Denver Nuggets could get scary. That’s not even considering Michael Porter Jr.’s contract or Aaron Gordon’s contract, which both will ask for more money once their deals expire. Christian Braun won’t be extension eligible until two summers from now, which is a bit of time away. But that time will be here before the Nuggets know it, and he’ll probably want a sizeable extension, too.

All teams do have to spend money to be able to compete for titles, there’s no way around that. But that doesn’t mean they want to hand out a lot of money. Look at the Golden State Warriors. They’re really cash-strapped, and adding talent being way over the cap is not easy, especially with the new second apron rules.

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If Jamal Murray does make the All-Star team and is eligible to sign that super-max contract, the Denver Nuggets would probably have to think hard if they want to hand it out. At the end of the day, though, they’d probably give it to him. It’s not every day you can have one of the NBA’s greatest playoff performers on your roster as a second option.

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