The NBA’s buyout market gets a lot of hype, mostly because it’s the last real transaction window to add a player before the playoffs begin. But more often than not, the players available make no real impact and prove to be available for a reason. That’s going to be the case yet again this season, and the Nuggets would be wise to proceed with caution.
There have been reports that the Nuggets were looking for a backup point guard ahead of the trade deadline, and that spot has been a question mark since the offseason. But the names around the league who may become available simply aren’t going to be an upgrade over what Denver has now.
Russell Westbrook, Lonzo Ball, D’Angelo Russell, and Cole Anthony are a few of the names that have been rumored to be bought out, and while those are familiar names that casual fans may be able to latch onto, don’t be fooled.Â
Westbrook was in Denver last year, and we all know how that ended. They certainly aren’t going to bring him back now. Lonzo can’t stay on the court and sadly looks like a shell of himself. There’s a reason the Cavs had to upgrade at his position. Russell and Anthony haven’t been good for several years and have never exactly been players who impact winning positively.
Nugget's bench players have earned playoff opportunity
Sure, other guys may become available, but this is the pool we’re swimming in. The Nuggets’ reserves have proven more than enough this season to warrant the opportunity to prove themselves in the playoffs. Bruce Brown and Jalen Pickett have gotten the job done and shown that they can be relied on for brief stints while Jamal Murray is on the bench.
They have more than enough playmaking between Murray, Nikola Jokic, Brown, and Pickett, plus what they’ll get from Aaron Gordon and Cam Johnson, and especially what they’ve discovered in Peyton Watson.
Offense isn’t going to be a problem for this team, so there’s no reason to rock the boat and go sign a likely washed-up veteran. Everyone wants to see the best possible version of the Nuggets in the playoffs, and given who’s likely to be available, it’s looking like the best possible version is the current version, just healthy.
And that’s the key. As it has been all season. This team has to get everyone back on the court. If everyone is active, this team should be able to go toe-to-toe with anyone in the league, but we haven’t seen a healthy stretch since the opening weeks of the season, and they’ve suffered in one way or another.
If health is never going to be on their side, then I don’t see what difference one of these buyout players is going to make anyway. But in terms of solving legitimate roster issues, an internal solution looks like the best one at this point.