Ranking the 5 Nuggets starters' contracts from bargain to nightmare
By Ben Handler
Aaron Gordon, 4 years $86.6 million: Incredible bargain
This is yet another incredibly team-friendly contract for one of the most important players on a championship team. The 28-year-old Gordon makes just under $22.3 million this year, just over $23.8 million next year, and has a player option for $23.8 million in 2025-26.
It seems likely at the moment that Gordon will decline that option and look to get a new long-term deal for more money as he’ll be entering his age 30 season. But still, much like Murray, Gordon will have completely earned that payday as he’s playing now on a relative discount.
The $22+ million he’s making this year is relative chump change for an elite NBA role player on a championship contender. He has massively outperformed his deal and deserves the big raise he’ll almost certainly receive.
As long as they can afford it, the Nuggets should be happy to give Gordon another deal and keep him around as long as possible. He’s an impeccable fit for what the Nuggets need on both ends of the court, and his chemistry and two-man game with Jokic has become almost unstoppable.
He also seems very happy to play his role and do the little things that help make this team so great. He doesn’t seem to crave any more of the spotlight than he has, and just genuinely appears to enjoy filling his role and helping his team win by doing whatever it takes.