2 dreams, 2 reaches, 2 realistic free agents for the Denver Nuggets to target

Realistic #2: Nuggets get a microwave scoring option in Lonnie Walker IV

There’s something to be said for having a player who can come in off the bench and immediately get buckets. That’s Lonnie Walker. He has never lived up to the hype he carried when he entered the league, but he can flat-out fill it up. 

He’s bounced around the league but had meaningful moments with the Spurs, Lakers, and Nets, and shown above all else an ability to heat up and score in bunches.

That’s something the Nuggets could desperately use as they’ve gotten some of the league’s worst scoring production from their bench. Walker could change all that in a hurry, as he may lack in other areas, but he’d be a good fit for what the Nuggets need. 

He could ease the burden for both Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, as you could confidently put the ball in his hands for a few minutes a half. There will be games where he doesn’t have it, but there will be others where he catches fire and carries the team for stretches.

He’s also the kind of guy who can come in and swing a playoff game. He did as much last season for the Lakers. Health issues have popped up for Walker, but if he can stay on the courts, he can get buckets in a major way. This would be a nice luxury off the bench that the Nuggets haven’t had in years.