Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth made it clear that the team wants to retain potential free agent wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, but is prepared for the possibility of losing him. Caldwell-Pope has until Saturday to decide whether or not he’ll pick up his 2024/25 player option.
“I think we have to look at everything, and the nature of free agency is, he’s unrestricted,” Booth said, per Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. “So we can try to bring him back, and if he doesn’t want to come back or opts to go somewhere else, that’s his prerogative. So we’ll have to work with that. But I think we’re prepared to plug and play, so to speak.”
As Durando notes, Booth identified third-year swingman Christian Braun as the top candidate to replace Caldwell-Pope in the starting lineup if necessary, citing Braun’s net rating in various lineups as a positive indicator for his ability to take on a larger role.
“I think when you look at some of the teams that have been good in the past, they have to find a way to replace fourth, fifth starters, sixth men off the bench and still keep rolling,” Booth said. “… I think if (Braun) has to step into the starting lineup, I think we’ll be OK, if KCP doesn’t return.”
Booth added that the Nuggets have interest in re-signing veteran free agents DeAndre Jordan and Justin Holiday, per Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette (Twitter link).
Here are a few more free agency rumors and notes from around the NBA:
- There has been “growing buzz” that DeMar DeRozan won’t be back with the Bulls next season, whether he simply walks as a free agent or departs via sign-and-trade, writes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. Within his latest Substack article, Marc Stein relays that his podcast partner Chris Haynes said extension talks between the Bulls and DeRozan have “gone cold,” increasing the likelihood that the veteran forward reaches the open market.
- On the other hand, “all signs” point to the Bulls re-signing free agent forward Patrick Williams, says Johnson. Chicago was the first team to officially tender a qualifying offer to a free agent this summer, issuing Williams a QO on Monday to ensure he’ll be a restricted free agent.
- There have been “league-wide rumblings” that the Magic have interest in point guard Tyus Jones, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports writes within a breakdown of the draft’s first day. Jones will be an unrestricted free agent and is widely expected to command a salary above the mid-level; the Magic will have the cap room necessary to make him a competitive offer if they so choose.
- Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein is another potential target to watch for Orlando. With Hartenstein nearing unrestricted free agency, Stein writes at his Substack that the Magic and Thunder continue to be named most frequently by rival executives as potential suitors for the big man.
I know the Knicks aren’t great salary wise but if we manage to shed Robinson salary would they be able to offer IHart the full amount allowed?
No, even by doing that, could only give him around the mid level. Claxton just got $25M so Hartenstein should want at least $20M
My prediction
KCP will sign $100 million contract with 76ers
They can’t do nothing
Hartenstein will sign $110 million with Magic
Magic need a guard. They’re not going to spend all that money on a big man.
Hartenstein isn’t enough of an upgrade over Carter to be worth that much to the Magic. Yeah, he’s the better player, but not by *that* much. Certainly not when they already have Carter locked up for two more years at 11 million per. They need at least a short term upgrade at the point until Black develops a bit more.
By no means is it certain that Hartenstein is a better player than Carter. They bring different skill sets. Carter’s a good shooter and gets you some rebounds while playing above average defense, he’s just hurt a lot. Hartenstein is a good team defender but doesn’t bring much on the offensive end and until last season never carried the load as a fulltime starter and even then it was only a little over half a season.
Fair, but I disagree. Hartenstein is a far better rebounder, playmaker, and above-the-rim athlete than Carter is. He’s very agile for his size. Shooting is valuable, but Carter only takes 3 threes a game, making about one. His efficiency isn’t always that good, either; he was much worse earlier in his career. The Magic would rather have Hartenstein’s greater physicality and get their shooting from giving Suggs and ideally their PG more 3pt shot attempts. They just aren’t going to pay that much for Hartenstein when they have other needs.
As for “only half a season”, that’s fair, but Carter rarely plays more than 55 games anyway.
Magic need a guard? They have plenty of them. The question that should be asked is how do they plan using anyone they pick up. Who is locked in? I can see IH getting lost on that team – better suited for OKC if he goes anywhere, but right now he has to be wondering if the extra $20-30M will replace the fun he could/can have sticking with the team he’s been with that has just improved even more. hard to leave money on the table, but if he’s someone who doesn’t mind just being rich vs richer, perhaps he stays and signs the max with the Knicks.
They have like two players who can run the point. Suggs is the starting 2. Black is the other. Nobody else on that roster should be the PG. Jett Howard (who is bad) and Cole Anthony (6th man at best, can’t handle being a starter, and the Magic know it, which is why he didn’t start a single game last season) are the only other guards on the roster. Every other guard is a free agent, and they added another wing in the draft.
They have a bunch of average guards. They have great big men and that’s carried them all year. But Suggs and Cole Anthony are really backups. Anthony Black, well we hope he turns into something but he’s not much of a shooter. And I don’t think they have anybody else that can handle the ball. I really do think they need a guard, like a good guard.
“Booth added that the Nuggets have interest in re-signing veteran free agent DeAndre Jordan”
Why? He didn’t have much of a season in 23-24. Played in 36 games, averaged 11 minutes, 3.9 pts, 4.4 rb. 0.0 VORP. There have got to be some better 4/5 s out there for the vet minimum.
DeAndre must be a heckuva locker room guy.
I’d love it if AK and Eversley actually earn their salaries and figure out a way to trade into the 2nd round and get Filipowski. Toronto has the first pick and maybe we have something they want. I’d be finding out. The Bulls have needed a PF for forever.
Just got buzelis though. I know he’s a little lanky but give him a year to put on some more muscle and he’s the perfect 4 for them, 6’10, athletic, and fast.
I see Buzelis as more of a unique 3. I don’t think he rebounds as well as a 4 than as a 3. His speed and arms and ball handling make him a nightmare at 3, But another Markannen as a 4. Just my opinion. Donovan will find a way to misuse him anyway.
Bad news,draft has been split in two drafts and No 31 is a No 1 of a weaker draft,but still a No 1.Could be a case,if teams want 31 or 32 picks,they’ll have to pay more for those than in previous drafts.If Bulls gonna try to squeeze a juice from this draft,watch AK to sign undrafted stone and turn him into Jokic diamond
I’d be more than happy to move Patrick Williams for 31. I have no idea if Filipowski is the answer but I know he’s better than what they have right now which is zero. No less than zero. Anybody with 2 eyeballs can see that Williams isn’t a 4. Now he’s a 3. So now we have Buzelis and Phillips for 3. Williams has no place long term. They kept trying to pound that square peg into a round hole for too long. So long term you should have:
1- Giddey, Coby, Ayo
2-Coby, Ayo , Terry
3. Buzelis, Phillips
4- Filipowski?
5- Our future C after Vujevic goes at the deadline
Williams doesn’t fit anymore and I’m assuming DDR leaves in FA and LaVine is gone and Ball is an injury exemption for half his salary.
I don’t know about anyone else but I can’t wait for free agency to get here. Right now every sport writer is saying whatever they can to say they have inside knowledge. Some of the rumors are exact opposite of another rumor. Let’s get this party started and bring on the free agents.