The NBA offseason is here, and the Denver Nuggets are exploring all options at all positions in an attempt to make their team competitive come the beginning of next season.
Mile High Sports is proud to provide a unique, and insightful look into this offseason free agent class. In this piece, specifically, we will be talking about the small forward positions.
There are some big free agent small forwards up for grabs this season, and the Denver Nuggets will surely explore any and all options available on the open market.
Let me first start off by saying LeBron James and Kevin Durant are NOT realistic options for the Nuggets at this point. While it would be nice to bring one of those two in, it is not happening.
There are, however, a few big name guys the Nuggets could go after this offseason.
Here’s a look:
Chandler Parsons
Age: 27 Size: 6’10”, 230lbs
Career Stats: 14.3 points; 3 assists; 5.1 rebounds
2015-16 Stats: 13.7 points; 2.8 assists; 4.7 rebounds
The need for scoring is a big one for the Nuggets and Parsons can deliver.
Chandler Parsons is an athletically gifted player that has good scoring ability. He is a quality forward in this league who still has many great years in front of him.
For his size, he handles the ball fairly well, and has shown he can be an effective perimeter shooter.
In the final 27 games of the season, Parsons averaged just under 20 points per game to pair with his .519 shooting percentage for the field.
There is no doubt his production will be high, the key is his health.
The Nuggets need an impact scorer and a guy who can help bring other great players to Denver.
Harrison Barnes
Age: 23 Size: 6’8″, 225lbs
Career Stats: 10.1 points; 1.5 assists; 4.6 rebounds
2015-16 Stats: 11.7 points; 1.8 assists; 4.9 rebounds
Harriosn Barnes is putting up nice numbers and is not use to losing very often. Barnes has a ton of potential; however, he may not be able to show it in Golden State, with the powerhouse of a roster they have, meaning Barnes could leave the Golden City to pursue more playing time and money elsewhere. Both are things Denver could provide.
While his game does need polishing, it is one that could really help boost the Nuggets.
Versatility is a word you could use to describe Barnes.
He can guard both forward positions, and even centers when called upon. He is an athletic wing player who can stretch it on both ends of the floor.
The Nuggets need depth at the forward position, especially with Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari constantly battling injury.
Barnes is also just 23 years old, meaning he could slide in perfectly with the wave of youth the Nuggets are trying to build around; he would also bring in a championship mentality to a team with no current NBA champs under contract.
One of the biggest questions surrounding Barnes is money. He reportedly turned down upwards of $60 million dollars last season; he wants to strike gold despite the fact he is a restricted free agent.
Either way, the Nuggets have a ton of cap space and are willing to use it to get the guy they want.
Nicolas Batum
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS4i6J2UxI8
Age: 27 Size: 6’8″, 200lbs
Career Stats: 11.7 points; 3.4 assists; 5.2 rebounds
2015-16 Stats: 14.9 points; 5.8 assists; 6.1 rebounds
The Frenchmen would fit right in with the rest of the foreign players the Nuggets have on their roster.
Batum had the best year of his career last year, averaging just under 15 points per game to go along with a .426 field goal percentage.
Batum is another guy who would prove to be of value to the Nuggets because of his scoring and ability to stay on the court. He is a nice ball-handler who has improved his game as the year’s have gone by.
He pairs better with team’s that already have an established offensive identity; however, that should not stop the Nuggets from perusing him.
Kent Bazemore
Age: 26 Size: 6’5″, 201lbs
Career Stats: 6.4 points; 1.3 assists; 2.7 rebounds
2015-16 Stats: 11.6 points; 2.3 assists; 5.1 rebounds
A few years ago, Kent Bazemore was just that guy on the Warriors bench who loved to celebrate. Today, he’s one of the most-talked-about free agents on this year’s market, and some are expecting him to get paid — a lot.
While Bazemore may not be elite at any one skill, he’s really good at just about everything. And with the Hawks this season, he was critical to their success, stepping in almost seemingly after DeMarre Carroll left for Toronto.
Shooting over 35 percent from three for his career, and showing the ability to be an above-average to very good defender, Bazemore is the exact type of glue guy ever team wants on their roster. The only issue, is that most glue guys don’t get paid $15-20 million a year, which Bazemore could demand, especially in this offseason’s inflated market.
It’s also important to note that at 26, Bazemore is less than a year younger than Danilo Gallinari, who is arguably better and cheaper than Bazemore.
Allen Crabbe
Age: 24 Size: 6’6″, 210lbs
Career Stats: 7.0 points; 1.0 assists; 2.0 rebounds
2015-16 Stats: 10.3 points; 1.2 assists; 2.7 rebounds
Allen Crabbe definitely isn’t the most exciting name of the bunch, but he’s by far the most likely.
While Crabbe had a very solid season in Portland, shooting nearly 40 percent from three and doubling his minutes from the season before, he’s still the cheapest name on this list, and that’s appealing to the Nuggets.
The fact of the matter is that Denver has two quality small forward options in Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler — hate on Gallo all you want, but 6-foot-11 small forwards who score 20 points a game, shoot 36 percent from three and play above-averad defense don’t grow on trees — and there’s no reason to overpay another option unless they’re a bonafide star.
Crabbe, though, could come relatively cheap and play an important role off the bench, both at the three and the two.