APRIL 20: The Nuggets have signed Rivers to a 10-day contract, according to Singer. Denver has announced in a press release that it’s official, so it will run through April 29, covering the team’s next six games. The deal will pay Rivers $158,907, with the Nuggets taking on a $110,998 cap hit.
APRIL 14: The Nuggets are negotiating with free agent guard Austin Rivers, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic, who adds that they are in “serious talks” toward a deal, pending health and safety protocols. The team’s interest in Rivers was first reported on Monday.
Rivers is currently in Denver and is expected to sign within the next few days, a source tells Mike Singer of the Denver Post (Twitter link). It will likely be a 10-day contract, Singer adds (Twitter link).
The Nuggets are need of backcourt help after losing star guard Jamal Murray for the rest of the season with a torn left ACL. Denver has a roster opening and can add Rivers without a corresponding move.
Rivers, 28, signed with the Knicks during the offseason, but was never able to establish himself in the rotation, averaging 7.3 points and 2.0 assists in 21 games. He was traded to the Thunder at last month’s deadline and was waived a few days later.
Rivers would be eligible for the postseason because he wasn’t on an NBA roster beyond April 9, Singer notes (Twitter link). He offers plenty of playoff experience, having reached the postseason five times, including the past two years with the Rockets.
Yes this is a no-brainer now.
Austin Rivers can be a poverty-stricken man’s Murray in small spurts and the rest of the team will pick up the slack.
I think MPJ has been straining at the leash for more touches.
I still have hopes for a deep playoff run for this team.
damn… beyond poor man’s
This is a good take. The nuggets are def the type of team to be able to pick up anyone’s slack who are out except probably jokic.
Except that Murray was the one who got them to the WCF last year, not Jokic. Of course it’s easier for them to replace Murray in the lineup, but finding someone to explode for those 40 or 50-point games he had during last season’s playoffs will be the real test here.
I disagree. Murray was streaky in last year’s post-season. Here are his point totals for every game of 2020 playoffs:
36, 14, 12, 50, 42, 50, 17, 12, 27, 14, 18, 26, 21, 40, 21, 25, 28, 32, 19.
That’s 7 games out of 19, where he scored less than 20 points. Sure, he scored 50 points – TWICE, but he also had two 12-point games!
Will the Nuggets be able to apply for a DPE? They need to add a shooter too.
The deadline to apply for a DPE was March 3rd.
Don’t really need to. They’re under the lux tax and anyone they’d sign now will be vet minimum type.
I hope they do give Rivers a chance, when he gets hot he doesn’t miss. I still wonder why he got so frozen out by This and the Knicks. I also would like to mention I think Monte Morris may show up for the Nuggets and raise up.
Thibs is so strict with his rotation, once you’re out, you’re really out unless injury really decimates your position. Kevin knox’s playing time is a great example of this this year. I’m actually pleasantly surprised that thibs is as liberal with the rotation this year as he is. Talent is more evenly distributed as opposed to the talent gap between starters and bench on some other teams he’s coached but. It’s nice to see like 2 bench players per game getting more mins than 2 starters. Then again for the knicks that usually means derrick rose over elfrid payton haha so that’s usually a no brainer.
If you’re talking about signing Austin Rivers, you can’t be that serious.
It’s the end of the season man.. who u think is available? Steph Curry?
Oh man, you sure got me there. Zing.
Who else out there is better than Rivers? He’s an experienced veteran who can provide quality minutes for Denver as a backup.
Austin Rivers is underrated..dudes a solid bench player and can get hot from three sometimes
No Rivers needs to understand his place in the NBA, he is a mediocre bench player that got over paid by his dad…and he cant seem to accept the fact he is only worth small contracts with small roles
Could make sense to look into someone like Dion Waiters, still not on a team. He can get into the paint at will, give them some of the scoring they lost, and still can knock down outside shots, as well as compete defensively. A lot of stuff that happened last year was overblown, in my opinion, so I think he deserves a shot, and I think he would make sense for them. Could also be a shot for someone like Jeremy Lin
they added Shaq Harrison, so they potentially have some really strong defensive lineups to go to, which is different from what they’ve had, but definitely should look to add a scoring guard. Personally I think Waiters is a good option, as his ability to get into the paint whenever he wants is especially important in the playoffs
Where is JR Smith this time of year. I bet he’s still waiting by the phone. I for one liked the Rivers signing it’s too bad Thibs likes Payton more.
Rivers wasnt good with the Knicks, which is why I remember saying he was a guy they should move a long time ago
Waiters and Lin would be better options for Denver. Not saying he cant contribute. Just saying I think they’d be be better
Good for him. I hope he does well. He’s the one player I think the Knicks mishandled.
Too bad he gets a chance this way. Really feel bad for Denver. Was looking forward to watching them in playoffs. Rivers is playing for contract next yr. So they should get the best from him. He played well in NY.
Good: keeps intensity up, but turnovers low;
good playoff on/off probably due to activity & confidence;
looks large (for a guard)& in charge, which could help morale.
Bad: con man confidence, can mislead offense;
will be the only combo guard with Murray out;
weak numbers do not improve with playoffs.
Bas.Ref: Last 3 years, 165g, 34%on3s, 51%on2s, 63%on1s
PER 9.0, BPM minus3.4, VORP minus1.5, O-DRtgNet minus7.
Playoffs down: PER 6.9, Net minus12, 40%on2s, 4.5 fouls/36′.