Shams Charania reported back on June 27 that the Nuggets and Jamal Murray were “working toward” a four-year, maximum-salary contract extension, with the team expected to make the offer and the star guard expected to accept it. Over two weeks later, there’s still no deal in place.
A report earlier this week indicated that the Nuggets and Murray will likely wait until after the Olympics to finalize an agreement, and the 27-year-old Canadian essentially confirmed as much when asked this week by Troy Renck of The Denver Post about his contract situation.
“When we get there, we get there,” Murray said after the Canadian team lost an exhibition game to Team USA in Las Vegas on Wednesday. “I’m playing games right now for Canada, so that’s not on my mind.”
A maximum-salary extension for Murray, who is entering the final year of his current deal, would be worth a projected $207.85MM over four seasons.
Here’s more from around the Northwest:
- Gary Trent Jr. isn’t a viable target for the Nuggets in free agency, according to Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports (Twitter link), who hears that the 25-year-old swingman isn’t interested in accepting a minimum-salary contract and that there may not be much interest on Denver’s side anyway.
- Isaiah Joe‘s new four-year, $48MM contract with the Thunder includes a fourth-year team option and has a descending salary structure, tweets Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Joe’s cap hit in 2024/25 will be $12,991,650 before dipping to $12,362,338 in ’25/26, with third- and fourth-year salaries of $11,323,006.
- Although he attended Team Canada’s pre-Olympic training camp this summer, Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe wasn’t in the mix for a spot on the 2024 Paris roster. But Sharpe, who has been medically cleared following his core muscle surgery in February, is in Canada’s future plans, head coach Jordi Fernandez tells Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report (Substack link). “We value him as an important player in the future, being a big part of this program,” Fernandez said. “We don’t only care about this tournament. We care about AmeriCup and the World Cup and L.A. in 2028. We want Shaedon to be a part of that.”
- Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune takes a closer look at the Lauri Markkanen situation in Utah, exploring why the Jazz might be motivated to move the star forward and what they could reasonably expect to get in return.
Andy Larsen obviously believes that the Finnish school system is as putrid as its U.S. counterpart, thereby leaving Markkanen arithmetically challenged.
Quote No. 1 from his (paywall) article:
“But because the Jazz are under the cap by a whopping $34 million, they can… give him up to $42 million this season. That would be the $18 million he makes now, plus an additional $24 million of the Jazz’s cap room.”
Quote No. 2, on the topic of a possible $209 MM max contract:
“… Markkanen and the Jazz will likely agree to something just under that, giving the Jazz $10 million to $20 million of cap space to work with after the renegotiation and extension.”
Larsen expects Markkanen to give Jazz owner Ryan Smith a discount in order to tank his career with a bottom-dwelling franchise? Those $20 MM would basically take upcoming season’s $24 MM raise right out of his pocket again. And all that for a trash franchise that’s currently $14 MM under the NBA’s salary floor?
Markkanen would receive a full max contract anywhere he goes, no problem. Then why stay with that SLC garbage heap and finish every season in early March, riding the pine with phantom injuries, and then watching the playoffs from the comfort of his couch in Jyväskylä? Only a person who hates playing basketball would stay put in such situation.
Did you actually read the article? It is all about different trade scenarios. Besides, by all accounts, Lauri likes it in SLC. Utah has a ton of 1st round picks in upcoming drafts. Ainge is pretty smart. I think can land some quality players.
Sure thing, Danny. Whatever you say.
The Kings have said Murray is never being traded this offseason
The Warriors have said Kuminga is never being traded this offseason
That said, Larsen’s piece minus Kuminga actually is closer to Lauri’s trade value. GSW could juice Utah’s return by adding other teams. I can see Lauri going to GSW happening without Kuminga.
Many teams still have spending power
Nuggets vet min
Lakers vet min
Bucks vet min
Heat Vet min
76ers vet min
Tyus Jones and Trent are in trouble
As for a Lauri trade
What about Lauri Markeneen and Walker Kessler for Brook Lopez and 5 first round picks
Bucks would be crazy stacked
Dame Middleton Lauri Giannas Kessler
Wright Connaughton Beachamp Portis …
Giannas would have shooters around him, the length on this team would be crazy. You’d lead the league in blocks and rebounds easily.
They’d need to be quick to fill out the rest of the depth with some smart FA signings for the minimum.