Would Denver trade Harris, Barton for backcourt upgrade?
Q : I am wondering a few things. First, what are the chances we resign Jerami Grant? And how much do you think the deal will be worth? Second, do you think we go after a Jrue Holiday or Victor Oladipotype player or stick with Will Barton and Gary Harris? And lastly, do you think MPJ will be inserted into the starting lineup for the next season?
— J, Los Angeles MS: I think there’s a very good chance the Nuggets retain Jerami Grant for a few reasons. First of all, their cap situation is such that they wouldn’t be able to sign a player of his caliber from the free agent pool. Secondly, the Nuggets know how valuable Grant is, particularly in the Western Conference. The Nuggets probably wouldn’t have made it out of the first round without him, and they certainly don’t beat the Clippers without him. I think both sides are motivated to reach a deal somewhere in the neighborhood of four years for $ 64 million. That’s just an educated guess.
My gut tells me the Nuggets leave no stone unturned this offseason. There was chatter at the deadline around Pelicans guard Holiday, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if those discussions get revisited. Holiday has one year left on his contract before he can become a free agent, so the Nuggets would need to assess whether they think he could be a long- term play or if they’re comfortable going for it next season. I think Gary Harris and/ or Will Barton could absolutely be used in a trade to land a player like that, along with at least one or two first- round picks. The Nuggets have No. 22 ( via Houston) this upcoming draft.
I think MPJ’s future as a starter depends on a few things, including Barton’s status, what the Nuggets do with Grant and Paul Millsap’s free agency, and whether he takes ownership over his defensive weaknesses. If Michael Malone senses a dedicated commitment from Porter this offseason, on both sides of the court, I think he’ll be rewarded with a starting spot.
Q : Given Gary Harris’ struggles the last two seasons and Will Barton’s struggle last postseason, do you see the Nuggets trading one or both of them in order to upgrade the shooting guard spot?
— Ryan J, Denver MS: I think moving on from Harris and/ or Barton is a real possibility this offseason. If I had to guess, I’d think Harris might be the more likely one. Two seasons ago, Harris was a borderline All- Star. Injuries hampered his availability and his confidence has been shaky since then. One could argue he’d benefit from a change of scenery.
It would be a gut- wrenching move for Tim Connelly, since Harris is one of the staples of the locker room.
The other component is that outside of an Orlando scrimmage, Barton didn’t play one minute of bubble basketball due to a balky right knee. He left the bubble to rehab offsite early in the playoffs, and there’s been very little to indicate any sort of progress. Barton had his best year as a pro before the hiatus, but who’s trading for a guy when it’s not clear what’s wrong with him?
Q : Which of our pending free agents are we most likely to resign?
— Brad Bonesteel MS: I think Grant is the priority because of his age ( 26) and versatility. Frankly, as well- liked as Mason Plumlee is within the locker room, backup center might be the easiest position to replace. As for Millsap, I think the market is going to dictate whether he remains in Denver next season. If he gets a significant offer elsewhere ( perhaps maybe in the $ 10 million to $ 12 million range), I think he’s gone. The Nuggets don’t have enough room to bring back all their free agents and not flirt with the luxury tax.
Q : If the Nuggets are unable to re- sign Mason Plumlee this offseason, who do you think they look to in order to fill the void of backup center? I personally think that Meyers Leonard would be a good fit in Denver for a number of reasons.
He’s an unrestricted free agent this offseason and would come from a championship- caliber team in Miami which would help with depth throughout the regular season and playoffs.
— Sam Catalfamo, Rochester, N. Y. MS: If not Plumlee, I think Leonard’s a good option. The NBA is flush with backup big men entering free agency ( Kelly Olynyk, Aron Baynes, Enes Kanter, Robin Lopez, to name a few). As one league insider recently told me, the surplus may drive down Plumlee’s asking price since very few teams have cap room to sign free agents. If that’s the case, perhaps the Nuggets could bring him back on a more team- friendly deal than the $ 14 million he made this past season.
Q : Hello, thank you for your coverage of Nuggets. Why did Bol Bol not play some minutes in the playoffs? I know he lacks experience but I would say someone with his size and shooting would be valuable asset for any team. Was there some health problem? Or would he be exposed defensively? And what is your opinion on his future with Nuggets?
— Dusan, Bratislava MS: The Denver Post is going international! Bol is still very, very raw. He’s skinny and barely has any real NBA experience save for the seeding games, which many teams didn’t take seriously. His combination of size and shooting is extremely intriguing, but I think that’s a lot to ask of a rookie who’s never played in the playoffs before.
But what Bol did during the seeding games was noteworthy. I think the Nuggets know a lot more about what he is, and what he can be.
Next season will still be a developmental year for Bol. In fact, he may not be a regular contributor for two seasons. Expect Malone to trot him out as a three and perhaps backup five when the situation warrants. The Nuggets want to see Bol commit himself in the offseason, which means strength training and staying in the gym. Even though he got back on the court in Orlando, he still needs to prove he can stay healthy for sustained periods.