With the Denver Nuggets offseason in full effect, 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.
The final stop on our “five players” list is the coveted center position.
The center used to be the centerpiece of a great team, but times have changed. The center is no longer as valued as it once was.
That, though, does not mean it’s not important — far from it.
The center position is arguably the Nuggets’ deepest position, with Nikola Jokic, Jusuf Nurkic and a few others capable of filling the position. With that said, there is always room for improvement, especially if the Nuggets decide to make massive changes to their roster this offseason (like trading a guy like Jusuf Nurkic), and there are a few free agents out there that could help put the Nuggets over the top.
Bismack Biyombo
Age: 23 Size: 6-foot-9, 245 pounds
Career Stats: 4.6 points; 6.5 rebounds; 1.6 blocks
2015-16 Stats: 5.5 points; 8.0 rebounds; 1.6 blocks
Biyombo’s value skyrocketed due to his impressive defense and rebounding throughout the postseason, his knack for grabbing boards and locking down the paint helped propel the Toronto Raptors to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
The Nuggets ranked eighth in rebounds per game last season, but ranked 22nd in opponent’s points per game, showing they need some help defensively.
Michael Malone is a defensive-minded coach, so if the Nuggs were to pull the trigger on Biyombo, he could fit nicely with their scheme.
Biyombo wants to cash in, thus the reason he decided to opt out of his contract, meaning the Nuggets will need to break open the bank to bring in this youngster.
Since Biyombo is just 23 years old, the ceiling is much higher for compared to other options available. So, maybe the money is worth it to bring in a young, skilled defender to help lock down the paint.
Festus Ezeli
Age: 26 Size: 6-foot-11, 265 pounds
Career Stats: 4.2 points; 4.3 rebounds; 1.0 blocks
2015-16 Stats: 7.0 points; 5.6 rebounds; 1.1 blocks
Festus Ezeli is another marquee name the Nuggets could attempt to lure to the Mile High City this offseason.
He does not posses too much offensive upside, but the main draw to him is his defensive skills on the boards and in the paint.
In addition to his athleticism, he is a league champion that could help bring guidance and a championship mindset to the Nuggets lockeroom.
The price tag will be high for the championship defender, but it could be the difference maker for the future of organizations everywhere.
Hassan Whiteside
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNi0pi5pwK4
Age: 26 years old Size: 7-foot, 265 pounds
Career Stats: 11.6 points; 9.9 rebounds; 3.7 blocks per game
2015-16 stats: 14.2 points; 11.8 rebounds; 3.7 blocks per game
Hassan Whiteside made himself quite the pretty penny by following up his breakout season last year with an even larger 2016 season, but he’s still a bit of an unknown commodity.
He only played 111 minutes his first two seasons and averaged 1.5 points and 2.1 rebounds. Then, after a few different D-League stints and time with teams in China and Lebanon, Whiteside ended up in the hands of Pat Reilly. His past two seasons he has played a combined 3267 minutes and is averaging 13.3 points and 11.1 rebounds with a staggering 3.2 blocks per game.
Once Whiteside became a member of the Miami Heat everything changed. All of his potential suddenly came to the surface and the Hassan Whiteside of the past two NBA seasons had arrived. He is now a constant contender for defensive player of the year and has anchored a Miami Heat defense that was ranked seventh in defensive efficiency. Whiteside led the league with 3.7 blocks per game, averaging 1.4 blocks more per game than DeAndre Jordan, who is second in the league. Whiteside is, simply put, dominant protecting the rim.
When it comes to his fit with the Nuggets there is no less likely fit in the league. Whiteside’s issues with his character do not fit with Malone’s philosophy in Denver. Adding in the fact he is most likely going to get offered a max contract does not help either. I highly doubt the Nuggets are gearing up to offer $21 million a year to a player who has had knee issues and only has had two solid seasons in the NBA, especially with Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Jokic in the fold.
Al Jefferson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oowE51a2sRk
Age: 31 years old Size: 6-foot-10, 289 pounds
Career Stats: 16.7 points; 8.9 rebounds; 1.3 blocks per game
2015-16 stats: 12 points; 6.4 rebounds; 0.9 blocks per game
When talking about old-school, bruising, back-to-the-basket centers that are still contributing at a high level in the NBA, the conversation usually starts with Al Jefferson. His footwork when it comes to post moves and counter-moves is masterful. His ability to feel where the defender is and score in a variety of different ways has led to Jefferson becoming one of the most dominant post players in the game today. While he is getting a tad older and has had some injury issues, he has shown that he is still a force to be reckoned with, thanks to his fantastic fundamental play and an incredible basketball IQ.
Jefferson will never truly develop a three-point shot or become a fantastic passer, but he will almost always make the smart play. He is not as versatile as teams like modern day frontcourt players to be, but his production speaks for itself. To play below the rim, not have a three-point shot or passing ability to create space, and still average 16.7 points per game over an entire career is impressive.
With Jefferson expected to earn a max contract, or near that figure, he seems to be out of the running to end up in Denver. The Nuggets have multiple centers and do not need a ball-dominant low-post player to stop the ball movement that they have created with Nikola Jokic and Emmanuel Mudiay. I would be stunned if the Nuggets pursued Jefferson in free agency.
Joakim Noah
Age: 31 years old Size: 6-foot-11, 232 pounds
Career Stats: 9.3 points; 9.4 rebounds; 1.4 blocks per game
2015-16 stats: 4.3 points; 8.8 rebounds; 1.0 block per game
Joakim Noah finds himself in an unknown situation. With the Chicago Bulls in a heavy transition period, the aging and versatile center may find himself not being offered a contract by the team he has spent all of his nine seasons with, being that he is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The big question is if he is still serviceable and for what price.
Noah could be a really nice bench big man who can run the floor, rebound relentlessly, play fundamentally sound defense on the perimeter and in the post, and use his gifted vision to add another playmaker on the floor. His jump shot seems to have left him, as did the athletic ability he once possessed, but he could still contribute more than most backup centers in the league.
While Noah does fit what the Nuggets are trying to accomplish, and the price may be right, the odds of the Nuggets signing Joakim Noah seems pretty low. They have arguably too many frontcourt players already. Unless Connelly decides to trade either Lauvergne or Nurkic, I do not expect the Nuggets to sign any centers in free agency.