Denver Nuggets forward Darrell Arthur has opted out of his $2.9 million player option for next season, making him an unrestricted free agent.
It was expected that Arthur would do so in order to capitalize on the increase of the salary cap in the coming season.
Although Arthur opted out of the contract, he’s made it clear that he would like to continue to call Denver his home; however, he wants long term security too, something the Nuggets may not be able to provide with their recent stockpile of young talent.
“I definitely want to be here, especially if they extend me three or four years,” Arthur told Chris Dempsey of 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.”
The Nuggets drafted four players in the NBA draft, with at least two of the four ready to come over and contribute in the coming season, meaning roster spots will be at a premium.
As it stands, the Nuggets have three players from last year’s team not under contract: DJ Augustin, Mike Miller and Darrell Arthur, leaving three roster spots up for grabs.
Jamal Murray and Malik Beasley will occupy two of the three, leaving one left for either Miller, Augustin, Arthur or a potential free agent.
It should be noted that Jakarr Sampson and Axel Toupane are on non-guaranteed contracts, meaning the Nuggets could cut them to make room with no repercussions.
With that said, the Nuggets will need to make some decisions in the coming month.
All three have different roles with the team, so it will be up to the the organization to decide which holes they need filled most.
Mike Miller will bring the veteran presence this young Nuggets team so desperately needs, DJ Augustin is a solid backup point guard that packs a punch off the bench, and DA is a serviceable big man that could do a little bit of everything.
Arthur has been a staple in the Nuggets’ rotation and lockeroom for years, but as the team gets younger and competition builds for playing time, Arthur may be dissatisfied with his usage.
In year’s past, Arthur has been one of the Nuggets’ go-to guys off the bench, but now, with guys like Joffrey Lauvergne, Jusuf Nurkic, Nikola Jokic and Kenneth Faried all in his way, his role with the team will surely be a diminished one.
A one- or two-year deal makes sense for the Nuggets, but a long-term extension for a guy whose role will go down by the season just does not make sense from a basketball perspective.
DA is thinking long term, and unfortunately for the him, so are the Nuggets, and he doesn’t fit in those plans.
