With the Denver Nuggets offseason is in full effect, and the front office has now set out to dissect the upcoming NBA Draft and the vast amount of players that are set to hit the market as free agents this year.
And as the Nuggets go, so do all of us here at Mile High Sports.
So over the next month we will be going position-by-position and breaking down the top five draft choices and potential free agents and their fit in Denver.
Today we break down the Denver Nuggets’ own free agents. Lots of questions surround the current core and, with the new TV money set to flood the NBA and skyrocket the cap, what decisions the current role players will make. The Nuggets have two players that will be unrestricted free agents, one player option, two non-guaranteed contracts and two team options this upcoming offseason.
Here’s how they break down:
D.J. Augustin, Unrestricted free agent
Age: 28 Size: 6-foot-0, 183 pounds
Career Stats: 9.8 points; 4 assists; 1.8 rebounds per game
Percentages: 40.4% from the field; 37.4% from three-point; 86.7% from the free throw line
The Nuggets obtained D.J. Augustin when they sent Randy Foye to the Thunder at the trade deadline. He immediately brought a trait that was sorely missed: shot making. He came in as the backup point guard and it was immediately obvious how well he fit next to Mudiay.
The ability of Augustin to make tough shots forced defenses to stay tight on the perimeter, and it opened up the lane for Mudiay. Augustin also brought a savvy veteran presence to the team when times got rough. Augustin single-handily won at least four games for the Nuggets, all coming after the trade deadline.
He struggled all year defensively, sporting a defensive rating of 111, his career worst. He did play some of his best basketball offensively, though, as he had an effective field goal percentage of 54.1 with the Nuggets this year, highest of his career. He also shot 41.1 percent from three-point range, which is the second highest mark of his career.
With a lot of teams looking for a solid backup point guard Augustin may be getting more calls then he expects this offseason. He has said that he wants to stay in Denver, but with the cap exploding, the money elsewhere may be hard to turn down.
Mike Miller, Unrestricted free agent
Age: 36 Size: 6-foot-8, 218 pounds
Career Stats: 10.8 points; 2.6 assists; 4.3 rebounds per game
Percentages: 45.9% from the field; 40.7% from three-point; 76.9% from the free throw line
Mike Miller brought something different to the Nuggets then just an aging three-point specialist and elite inbound passer. Miller brought with him an endless wealth of knowledge, as a guy who has seen everything there is to see within the NBA. Having someone with the prestige that Miller has earned on a team with so many young talents, is vital to creating a strong team culture.
Adding to his experience is his ability to teach. Specifically working with Emmanuel Mudiay on his jump shot, which has gotten substantially better since Summer League. Mudiay shot 27.2 percent from three before the All-Star break and shot 36.4 percent from three, while shooting four extra three pointers, after the All-Star break.
While the market for Miller has yet to be seen, hopefully the Nuggets find a way to keep Miller in a Nuggets jersey for at least another year. He has been invaluable and a major part of the culture shift in Denver.
Darrell Arthur, Player option
Age: 28 Size: 6-foot-9, 235 pounds
Career Stats: 6.7 points; 1.1 assists; 3.4 rebounds per game
Percentages: 44.4% from the field; 31.4% from three-point; 76.1% from the free throw line.
When it comes to a power forward off of the bench, it is hard to get better than how Darrell Arthur played this year with Denver. The basic stats may not show it, but his post defense is by far the best on the Nuggets’ roster. His ability to space the floor in pick-and-pop situations is vital for a team who struggles with spacing. He may be the most vocal defender I have watched, and with an added three point shot, it’s hard not to love what he has brought to the team.
Not only does he fit extremely well, but he wants to stay in Denver. Even with a player option, he will opt-out of his current contract with the TV money flooding the NBA. He has said he wants to stay, but he knows what he is looking for.
“I definitely want to be here, especially if they extend me three or four years,” Arthur told the Denver Post. “That would be great, because I love the city, I love the team, I love the direction the coach is going in and the organization. So, I want to be here.”
When talking in exact terms with the Denver Post like that, you know he means what he says. He does love Denver and wants to continue playing here, but he needs security in his next contract. Are the Nuggets up to committing to an oft-injured backup power forward in the way he wants? That is for Tim Connelly to answer.
Axel Toupane, Non-guaranteed contract
Age: 23 Size: 6-foot-7, 197 pounds.
Career Stats: 3.6 points; 0.7 assists; 1.5 rebounds per game
Percentages: 35.7% from the field; 32.5% from three-point; 76.5% from the free throw line
Axel Toupane came up from the D-League this season once the Nuggets lost Danilo Gallinari to injury. He came into the league with a potential “3-and-D” type game. While the verdict will be undecided for at least another year or so, the potential is there.
Toupane has a surprising amount of spring in his legs and has shown the ability to jump off both feet and still play above the rim. His three-point shot does not look awful but could be cleaned up. He has the body and quickness to guard three different positions as well.
If the Nuggets needed a roster spot, he would be on the chopping block. His contract is non-guaranteed going into next season. His being on the roster depends solely on what direction the Nuggets take this offseason.
JaKarr Sampson, Non-guaranteed contract
Age: 23 Size: 6-foot-9, 214 pounds,
Career Stats: 5.2 points; 0.6 assists; 2.4 rebounds per game.
Percentages: 43.1% from the field; 23.7% from three-point; 66.2% from the free throw line
JaKarr Sampson is everything you want in a team player. He is selfless, puts his body on the line, and does what ever you ask of him. He is an explosive athlete with the most underdeveloped of an offensive game. While Axel Toupane is the least “bust-able” of the two, Sampson absolutely has the higher upside.
Sampson already has the physical talents to guard four different positions. If he can get himself under control, he could be an undeniable energy wing off of the bench. Sampson also has a non-guaranteed contract heading into this offseason. His retaining, like Toupane, is dependent on the direction the team takes this offseason.