When Jamal Murray was practicing with the Nuggets in April and weighing the possibility of returning from his ACL tear, he was more apprehensive on the defensive side of the ball than on offense, Mike Singer of The Denver Post said on the HoopsHype podcast with Michael Scotto.
“He was concerned about fighting around screens, getting dinged, diving for loose balls, and that half-second hesitancy that might still be there as a result of that ACL tear he had,” Singer said.
However, that hesitancy was no longer evident when Murray practiced with Denver’s Summer League team a few weeks ago, according to Singer, who suggests that Denver’s decision to trade Monte Morris signals the club is confident in Murray’s ability to return strong in 2022/23.
The Morris trade was also a sign that Bones Hyland will have a bigger role going forward, according to Scotto, who has heard that the 2021 first-rounder has put on six pounds of muscle this offseason and is working out twice a day as he prepares for a minutes bump in the fall.
Here’s more on the Nuggets:
- Singer suggests that if Morris had reached free agency this summer, he likely would’ve earned a deal in the range of $14-15MM annually, as opposed to the $9MM he’ll make on his current deal. The Nuggets’ reluctance to pay that much to retain the point guard once his contract expires in 2024 was one reason why the team was willing to move him. As for Will Barton, his age (32 in January), injury history, and defensive limitations were factors in Denver’s decision to trade him, per Singer.
- People around the Nuggets were “pinching themselves” when Nikola Jokic signed a five-year extension to remain with the team and appreciated that those negotiations were drama-free, according to Singer. As Singer points out, Denver is typically viewed as “a place where (star) free agents don’t want to come,” so Jokic’s decision to commit long-term was a testament to the relationship he has built with the franchise. Of course, the fact that he’ll be in line for a projected $270MM (an NBA record) on the five-year deal probably didn’t hurt either.
- Singer believes that if the Nuggets had offered president of basketball operations Tim Connelly an extension worth about $5-6MM per year before the Timberwolves began pursuing him in earnest, he likely would’ve been “eager to stay” in Denver. However, the Nuggets were unwilling to match the five-year, $40MM offer Minnesota eventually made.
- Singer got the impression there was some “friction” behind the scenes with DeMarcus Cousins last season, which is one reason why the Nuggets signed DeAndre Jordan this summer to fill that backup center role.
Not sure Connelly would’ve made the moves Booth has. Connelly then signed Rivers and Forbes to the Wolves, two players the Nuggets definitely didn’t need/want so I’d say it all worked out for the best.
Re. Jokic’s extension, I think it’ll be one of the rare supermax contracts that will age well, along with his game.
I’m sure Connelly would have made different moves for the Nuggets than the Wolves. Minnesota badly needed outside shooting. He’s addressing that as a team need for the Wolves, not the Nuggets.
Denver is a huge threat this year if Jamal Murray is 100%.
These guys are my favorite to lose in the WCF.
Don’t understand why teams are sleeping on DeMarcus Cousins, it’s like teams don’t want to win, Cousins worked hard to get back into form afyer his injuries and played well in limited mimutes.
He is a starter im the league, start him and play him thirty minutes a game, he is an all star caliber player, and has more than a few good years left.
I can’t believe Mark Cuban and Mavericks won’t sign this guy, if Cuban sleeps on Cousins he can kiss his championship goodbye.
How is his defense?
Attack is more important than defence… specially for a center… so I don’t care at all about DMC’s perceived lack of D!!!
The one tech per game and the fights with teammates and the lack of defense are certainly worth it!
I thought Boogie was resigned?
I don’t know if he’s a starter, but I heard his Nuggets teammates (and coach) loved him. Not sure who there would have been “friction” with, other than the refs…
Id personally like the Bulls to sign him, it sets up a big trade midseason, because Cousins is a superior player to Vucevic. He is more of a prototypical power forward / center. Maybe he isnt Rudy Gobert in the five but he plays hard and has more in the tank than Vucevic.
Vucevic wants to play three and no D.
Sign Cousins and the Bulls have Cousins at the four and Drummond at the five and Vucevic and Tony Bradley in rotation. There is a team out there that would love to have Vucevic, can package him with Coby White and picks and get a real game changing player. Wont get Wendell Carter back but can salvage the bum trade you made.
Prepare for the trade deadline, roster flexibility, sign Cousins and you have a shot at winning.
I have all sorts of problems with Vucs defense as a bulls fan but cousins is not the solution. His defense is even worse than Vuc and he creates problems wherever he goes. We need to trade coby and a pick for Myles turner, starting cousins at the 4 would be such a disaster, and Drummond should not be starting either
Trade White for Nerlens + x? Or just sign Whiteside.