It’s no secret that the Denver Nuggets bench has had a slow start to the season.
With a bench lineup without Nikola Jokic that has struggled to generate consistent scoring so far, it appears that the Nuggets will explore their options in adding to the roster.
According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line and DLLS (All-City affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks), the Nuggets are “a team to watch” in the pursuit of free agent guard/wing Lonnie Walker IV.
Denver has emerged as a “team to watch” alongside Boston for Lonnie Walker’s potential NBA return as the season unfolds, league sources tell @TheSteinLine
More on Walker’s move to the EuroLeague with Žalgiris Kaunas in the latest This Week In Basketball: https://t.co/I1HDxIpOpb
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 4, 2024
Walker was a cap casualty for the Boston Celtics after signing an Exhibit 10 deal before this preseason, a team hoping to duck the second tax apron in preparation for massive tax restrictions in upcoming years. The Nuggets are in a similar position, but also far more desperate for bench scoring production at this time.
Walker didn’t generate enough NBA interest before the NBA season from other teams and has since made plans to sign with Žalgiris Kaunas in the EuroLeague. According to Stein:
“Walker’s agent, George S. Langberg of GSL Sports Group, negotiated a unique buyout in Walker’s deal with the Lithuanian club that enables him come back to any NBA team at a cost of $450,000 between now and Feb. 18 — nearly two weeks after the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline.”
So, any NBA team hoping to sign Walker now must first pay the EuroLeague squad, something the Nuggets may or may not be willing to do.
Stein continued, sharing the following on Stein’s suitors in the NBA:
“League sources say Boston remains interested in potentially signing Walker later this season depending on what sort of roster flexibility can manufactured, but sources likewise tell The Stein Line that Denver is another team to watch as the season unfolds when it comes to Walker’s possible NBA return.”
So, Denver is “another team to watch.” The wording on that is important, and it likely means that the Nuggets have reached out to Walker’s representation and told him of their interest.
However, “as the season unfolds” puts forth a unique timeline for the Nuggets. Through six games, the Nuggets are 3-3. They’re likely hoping to be able to survive with their current roster and bench units for as long as possible before the need for a free agency solution becomes mandatory.
I believe Stein at his word that the Nuggets have a degree of interest in Walker; however, I also know how important the development of wings/forwards Christian Braun, Julian Strawther, and Peyton Watson are to the Nuggets organization, especially the front office. Adding a veteran that cuts into the play time of those three could be of particular concern.
My prediction, the Nuggets will continue to monitor the health of their rotation and bench units. If things get particularly bad, they will start making calls to Walker, among other free agent options like Markelle Fultz, Justin Holiday, Gordon Hayward, Reggie Bullock, and others. I wouldn’t expect those calls to start taking place before December 15th unless things become particularly dire.