Nuggets forward JaMychal Green is headed to unrestricted free agency this summer. He’s declining the $7.56MM option on the final year of his contract, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.
The 31-year-old Green appeared in 58 regular-season games this past season, including five starts, and averaged 8.1 PPG and 4.8 RPG in 19.3 MPG. He also averaged 5.4 PPG and 5.2 RPG in 19 MPG during the postseason. He missed the first five games of the season with a calf strain.
Green has also played for the Clippers, Grizzlies and Spurs.
The Nuggets became a hard-capped team after signing Green with the mid-level exception last offseason. The mid-season acquisition of Aaron Gordon ate into his playing time.
Green might be taking a bit of a gamble, considering he’s been mainly a second-unit contributor much of his career. However, he’s a solid rotation player and could now find a new home where he might receive a bigger opportunity.
Teams try so hard to accumulate a Big 3 these days externally and somehow Denver has managed to do all this internally and still it comes with some major caveats
My wonder is if the 3rd leg in MPJ is going to be worth all the depth they have subtly had/let slip away over the last few years for the money being preserved for MPJ when it’s time
Silver has made Cap construction exceedingly difficult to master these days – You almost have to be perfect in your projections and probably be 6 months ahead of the curve on them as well.
I don’t know if I like Denver more than I did say 2 years ago today …they are somewhat limited
It’s easy for Nuggets to manage salary. They don’t have to pay tax
I have luxury tax headache at 2021 Lakers and 2022 Suns if they really want to win championships
Which is nothing remotely as bad as the luxury tax headaches suffered by the Warriors, while they continue to worsen when they re-sign Curry in 2022.
5 teams treat the luxury tax as number not money
Warriors
Blazers
Clippers
Knicks
Nets
Beasley and Grant would be making the Nuggets a all time great team.
That’s kind of my inkling …Is it possible MPJ and the Nuggets crossing paths was actually a huge disaster for Denver ?
We wont know for 10+ years but it just might be so Imo – Obv Im not over the moon for MPJ currently, he’s a nice player but it feels like everyone has wanted to put the cart before the horse with him for quite some time – I’m weary Max’N him, darkhorse to be traded next month as well Imo if a big deal comes across Denver’s desk
JG is one of my favorite under the radar players. But, like with Barton, this might be a blessing. DEN needs a bit of roster reset regardless. The focus as to be on bringing in a big 3 who can bring both perimeter skills and power on both ends. MPJ and Gordon have intriguing and somewhat complementary skills sets, but neither is that guy. DEN isn’t the first team to try and fake it. They may have so much talent that they can make it work, but I’m guessing not. Better for them to get off the path of least resistance and move boldly to set the top of the roster for the next 3 years and beyond. Jokic deserves that.
Teams will definitely show him at least that figure he declined
He’s steady-energy guy that has shot 29% from 3 the past couple of seasons.
You say 29% from 3 as if that is a good thing. That is not a good shooting percentage from 3.
Never mind, I just looked it up and it actually 39% from 3 which is much better.
That being said, it is still a risky move for Green. He’s not a guy that can’t be replaced by a cheaper younger guy. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him struggle to find a home.
JaMychal Green should get 10-12 mil in Fa as a inside scorer and proven defender. Nuggets could sign and trade maybe. If Millsap back than Green is useless on that team. Already got AG, Millsap (Fa), Zeke and Bol Bol kinda classified as a 4/5.
Millsap’s also a UFA, although he might be cheaper to retain given his age and declining skill set
Or he’s opting out so he can join a super team and try win a title
Great teams need depth…but with Zeke, Jokic, and MPjr the Nuggets are pretty well set for stretch bigs. Greatest needs IMO are another guard/wing scorer (upgrade over or a healthy Wil Barton?); and a back-up center.