By Jordan Long
NBA free agency started this weekend when teams are allowed to talk to free agents. If deals are made, they can’t be signed until July 6th. The Denver Nuggets have been quiet so far in free agency. The only move they made was to bring back power forward Paul Millsap who had a team option on the final year of his contract which will pay him $30 million this upcoming season. Denver may not make any more moves this summer but decided to agree to a contract extension with point guard Jamal Murray.
Murray was expected to play in the final year of his rookie contract. Denver was going to have him for one more year regardless. He has shined in his career so far in Denver. In his 3 years in the Mile High City Murray blossomed into one of the top young point guards in the NBA. He is averaging 14.8 points and 3.4 assists on the offensive end. He can make shots the from anywhere on the court to add to the Nuggets point total. Murray will drive into the lane and when he is fouled, he makes the opponents pay with an impressive free throw percentage of 87.9%.
On the defensive end, Murray plays tight defense and doesn’t allow easy buckets. Rival teams earn their points on him. Murray steals the ball to create fast break chances for the Nuggets.
Last season was his best in a Nuggets’ uniform to this point. Murray averaged a career high 18.2 points per game with 4.8 assists. With him as the point guard, Denver went 54-28, earning the #2 seed in the Western Conference. In the postseason, Murray helped Denver beat the San Antonio Spurs in 7 games before falling to the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2nd-round. Murray shined in those games averaging 21.3 points, 4.7 assists, and 1 steal per game.
Denver knew they wanted to keep him for years to come. He is part of the core with Nikola Jokic and Gary Harris who Denver hopes will become a superstar team. Denver agreed to a 5-year $170 million extension with Murray. It won’t start until next year. This will pay him a ridiculous $29.3 million in the 2020-2021 season. It goes up to $36.6 million in 2024.
Denver is looking to win an NBA Championship in the next 5 years and be a consistent playoff team for years to come. This is just the start for Denver. They must make more moves in the next few seasons to win a title. fffffffffff
It’s worth mentioning how badly he wants to get better. The numbers only illuminate so much of his talent. And honestly, his defensive and playoff consistency need to be there to hang with the Lakers, Warriors and Rockets. This may be premature for the Nuggets, and a gift to what could turn out to be an overpaid bust.