The Denver Nuggets enter the 2015-16 season as a team in rebuilding mode. While they haven’t gone full tank mode by retaining the likes of Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Jameer Nelson, they are still creating a core of youth centered around 7th overall pick Emmanuel Mudiay.
The Western Conference is difficult for any team, and even more so for a team in a transition. It may very well take two-to-three years before the Nuggets return to playoff form. With that in mind, here are three players that the Nuggets should move on from to give their youth more opportunity to play right away.
No. 3 – Randy Foye
Foye is entering his 10th season in the NBA and third with the Nuggets. Foye is a serviceable shooting guard, but doesn’t seem to make sense as a starter in Denver. In his last six seasons, he has only averaged more than 30 minutes per game once. In his career, he has only shot above 40% from the three point line twice, most recently in 2012-13 for the Utah Jazz which helped him earn his contract from the Denver.
Currently Foye is ahead of Gary Harris, Will Barton and Nick Johnson on the depth chart. Harris and Johnson are both former first round picks entering their second seasons, and Barton was the main piece brought back to the Nuggets in the Arron Afflalo trade.
As an asset, Foye is entering the final year of his three-year deal with the Nuggets. Not having any guaranteed money attached beyond this season makes him more attractive to a contender looking to add shooting off the bench. Alone, Foye doesn’t carry a ton of value on the trade market, but could easily be included in a package deal, or at the very least a trade exception or future second round pick.
