NBA free agency officially kicks off Sunday night at 6 PM EST (4 PM MDT) as teams are allowed to start meeting with players and negotiating contracts. Nothing can be signed until July 6th, but we get treated to a week of “legal tampering” for lack of a better term.
By now, most people know the routine; 6 PM strikes and we’ll be bombarded with reports of deals being struck and players agreeing to play for new teams. It’s going to be a wild night, and likely a wild few days. The work that front offices put in over the coming week may alter the landscape of the league for years to come.
The Nuggets have their own free agent to worry about, Kentaiovus Caldwell-Pope. But sadly, it sounds like he’s as good as gone barring an 11th-hour agreement. While that is a tough blow, there’s no time for the team to feel bad for themselves.
They need to hit the market aggressively and do their best to replace KCP and fill in the rest of the roster. Granted, that won’t be easy, as even with Caldwell-Pope off the books, Denver has nothing to offer in terms of cap space. They’ll be limited to minimum contracts and perhaps a small taxpayer midlevel exception if they can shed some more money.
Either way, the funds are limited. But that doesn’t mean hope is lost; there are many good players on the market and a number of them will settle for minimum contracts. The Nuggets need to be extremely diligent in targeting free agents they can realistically afford and that can actually come in and help the team on the court.
It’s going to be difficult, but it’s absolutely critical that the Nuggets nail these moves if they want to be able to contend for a title next season. These moves on the margins can make all the difference as we saw this year when the Nuggets didn’t have enough reliable players on their bench.
We’ve already highlighted one potential free agent target in Eric Gordon, who could have a nice role for Denver off the bench and may be at a point where he wants to come chase a ring. That seems like the kind of realistic fit Nuggets fans should be hoping for and expecting. With free agency ramping up in a few hours, here’s a look at 10 other players the Nuggets could target to strengthen their rotation.
No. 10 - Jonas Valanciunas, Center
The Nuggets’ need for a backup center has definitely diminished after drafting DaRon Holmes II out of Dayton. Holmes should step right in as the third big and be able to play the 4 and the 5. But that doesn’t mean the team couldn’t use another big - especially a true center off the bench. Holmes is a bit undersized and besides we know Michael Malone doesn’t love relying on rookies.
Well, Valanciunas would solve all of those problems. He’s a giant bruising center with plenty of NBA experience. JV might be able to get a bigger contract than the Nuggets can afford, but he also may value being in the right spot, having a chance to win, and a chance to contribute.
The Nuggets could offer all of that and it would be great to have an elite rebounder and a guy who can score in the post while Jokic sits. Valanciunas could provide a very different look than what Holmes will bring to the table, but that change of pace could be useful in certain matchups - like say, the Timberwolves.
No. 9 - Joe Ingles, Guard/Forward
It’s hard to tell how much Ingles has left in the tank, but luckily his game was never predicated on speed and athleticism. Ingles can still shoot and pass the ball and he has the smarts to still operate as a secondary playmaker on offense.
Playing alongside a basketball savant like Jokic should also help bring out the best in Ingles and he should be able to fit in like a glove and make beautiful basketball on the offensive end. The defense could definitely be a question mark, but again he has the size and smarts to get by on that end.
If he stays healthy and can get in good shape, bringing a vet like Ingles off the bench would be a boon for the Nuggets. He could step in and run the offense for stretches when needed and he could just as easily space the floor in the corner.
He’s just a really good, really solid professional basketball player. Hopefully, he has one more run in him and he wants to come chase a ring in Denver. On paper, his skill set would be an excellent fit with the way the Nuggets play and he could provide some steadiness to a bench full of young athletes.
No. 8 - Malik Beasley, Guard
This would be a storybook ending to Beasley’s career that started in Denver years ago. He’s waned a little bit with age, but he’s still an excellent shooter and a solid defender. There’s nothing the Nuggets need more than shooting and Malik is one of the very best in the business.
Stepping into the Nuggets' offense, he’d get as many open shots as he’s seen in years, and a high-volume, knockdown shooter could bring this team to a whole new level. His defense on the perimeter is not great, but he’s certainly not a liability.
If he’s ready to optimize his fit and try to win a championship ring on a minimum deal, there aren’t many players that would fit the needs of the Nuggets better than Beasley. He hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down and he could provide a lot of optionality, either as a starter or coming off the bench.
Whether KCP leaves or not, Beasley would be a great addition to the team, and the fact that he’s already played in Denver and has some familiarity should only help the situation and make the transition even smoother.
No. 7 - De’Anthony Melton, Guard
I’m a little skeptical that the Sixers will truly let Melton get away or that he’d settle for a minimum contract, but he would be the ideal replacement for Caldwell-Pope. Melton is a little smaller, but he’s a rock-solid two-way shooting guard who can do a little bit of everything.
Melton defends well for his position, he can space the floor and hit shots, and he can handle the ball and pressure the rim. His finishing inside isn’t great, but that’s the case for many smaller guards. He’s already proven he can fit around an elite big man and point guard in Philadelphia, so the move to Denver should be seamless.
If there is any chance of this happening, the Nuggets should pounce on the situation and slide Melton right into their starting lineup in the KCP spot. Melton has the experience of a veteran, but he’s still somehow just 26 years old. This could be an excellent buy-low opportunity for somebody that could be a perfect fit, and ideally stick around and help the team for a long time.
That may be wishful thinking, but even if he just came for a year or two to recoup his value and get a bigger payday, we’ve seen that work out very well in Denver for a number of players and Mleton could follow a similar path.
No. 6 - Seth Curry, Guard
Maybe not the Curry we want, but maybe the Curry we need. Seth may not have much left in the tank, but he can still shoot the hell of the ball and there’s always room for a guy like that. The best years of Seth’s career came playing off of Joel Embiid in Philadelphia and there’s no reason he couldn’t play a similar role in Denver with Jokic.
Curry is excellent at finding soft spots and getting himself open, moving without the ball, and of course, burying three-pointers as well as almost anyone alive. The Nuggets desperately need shooting and there aren’t many better than Seth.
At this point in his career, he won’t add much else and he could be a bit of a liability on defense, but it’s worth it to bring in such an elite shooter to a roster that needs it. Even if he’s not a fixture in the rotation, it would just be nice to have that card for Malone to play.
When things are going poorly, the team could turn to Curry off the bench and he could heat up and help swing a game - or even just a quarter. We’re talking about winning the marings here and Curry could definitely help in that regard.
No. 5 - Dennis Smith Jr., Guard
Smith Jr. is a young player who has already bounced around the league. A highly touted lottery pick coming out of NC State, Smith has had to reinvent himself as a hard-nosed defender and a scrappy role player on offense, but he’s quietly done a great job of it.
He seems at a point in his career where he is ready to embrace his role and help a team win and Denver could be the perfect spot. He would fill the need at backup point guard, but he can also play off the ball at times.
For a cheap price, he could provide a solid amount of what the team could be losing in both Reggie Jackson and Caldwell-Pope. He’s not big enough to lock down wings like KCP, but it would be nice to have that kind of guard defender on the team.
He has become an elite guard defender and he still has excellent athleticism. He can beat guys off the dribble, create offense, and knock down some shots as well. He’s never going to reach the star potential he once had, but he could be an elite role player on a really good team. Hopefully, he can fulfill that destiny on the Nuggets.
No. 4 - Lonnie Walker IV, Guard/Forward
Walker is the kind of microwave scorer off the bench that the Nuggets haven’t had in ages. He has struggled with consistency throughout his career, but the highs for Lonnie have been extremely high and we’ve even seen him come off the bench and swing playoff games in recent years.
His athleticism is elite and he can beat people off the dribble and get to the hoop or create space to get his jump shot going. He’s truly one of the better heat-check guys in the entire league.
He’s big for a guard as well and has the skills to defend when he is focused. It was easy for him to get lost in Brooklyn on a team that had no direction, but we saw him thrive with a set role coming off the bench for the Lakers.
The Nuggets could put him in a similar spot where he comes off the bench for a few minutes each half and gets to run the show. There will be nights where he may not have it, but there will be plenty of nights where he gets hot and helps carry the offense. It’s a great change of pace option, and one the Nuggets could really use.
No. 3 - Oshae Brissett, Forward
This guy is pure hustle and heart and his motor never slows down even a little. Brissett provided great energy for the Celtics off the bench during their championship season, but frankly, that team is so deep he had a hard time finding minutes.
But he can play inside and out and even a bit of small-ball center. He’s an excellent rebounder and defender, he can cut and play in transition, and he’s a good connective piece as he never stops moving.
The only issue with Brissett is he really struggles to shoot the ball, somewhat limiting who he can play with. But he works so hard that he’ll find ways to get on the court and once he’s out there it’s hard to take him off.
He would need to be surrounded by shooting, but he could definitely provide a spark off the Denver bench. Throwing him out there with other high-energy, rangy wings like Watson and Braun could create some really fun defensive lineups for Malone to play with. He might be looking for more playing time than the Nuggets can offer, but he’d be a great jack of all trades off the bench.
No. 2 - Kris Dunn, Guard
Dunn would be a dream target for the Nuggets who would fill a bunch of needs. He would fill the void left by KCP on the defensive end while providing a trusty backup point guard on offense in the absence of Jackson.
Dunn is another guy who may just be too good for what Denver can offer, but if he wants to contribute to winning this would be a great fit. Again, he isn’t a very good shooter, but he can do just about everything else for a team.
Dunn is one of the better guard defenders in the league and he’s big enough to scale up in certain spots. He’s very capable of running an offense and has excellent handling and passing skills. He can see the floor and he can also help the team get out in transition - something the Nuggets need more of.
The lack of shooting is definitely a bit of a concern for a team that needs to increase their three-point volume, but of the guys available, he can plug more holes than most. He should also be able to play alongside Murray and allow Jamal to play off the ball and get better looks.
No. 1 - Spencer Dinwiddie, Guard
Dinwiddie is one of the best options on the market who can run an offense and shoot. He should have plenty left in the tank and he has decent size and athleticism for his position. He’s got his flaws and hasn’t quite been able to be a primary creator or starting point guard but as a backup?
He would be more than qualified and would instantly be a huge upgrade over Reggie Jackson. Dinwiddie has had some tough luck in recent years with injuries and trades; he’s had a hard time finding a consistent role on a team for long without being moved.
But even with the constant changes in scenery, he has career averages of 13.3 points and 5.2 assists per game with decent efficiency. He’s still just 31 years old and there’s plenty of reason to believe that in a clear, defined bench role, put in a position to succeed he could do very well.
Dinwiddie has shined in a similar position before (4th in 6MOY for the Nets in 2019) and in Denver, he could be able to recapture that magic. It would be a great boost for a depleted and inexperienced bench that could use as much firepower as it can get.