The Nuggets have misplaced two essential gamers since successful the title in 2023. They could not maintain Bruce Brown, however they selected to not maintain Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Denver’s beginning taking pictures guard left to signal a three-year contract with the Orlando Magic, the second straight yr the Nuggets have misplaced a key wing participant. Caldwell-Pope bought $66M for 3 years, a deal that Denver selected to not match so it may keep underneath the second luxurious tax apron subsequent season.
That is a marked distinction to what the Boston Celtics have performed since successful their very own championship. They opened the league yr by signing Derrick White to a four-year, nine-figure extension, then handed Jayson Tatum the costliest contract in NBA historical past. They’re going to actually be restricted by the brand new CBA guidelines, however the Celtics aren’t afraid to pay the posh tax whereas their stars are of their primes.
Regardless of being owned by Stan Kroenke, the world’s 115th-richest man with a web price of over $16B, the staff is not prepared to pay the added tax penalties of going over the second apron. The staff claims they’re ready to maneuver Christian Braun into KCP’s beginning spot, however that leaves a Braun-sized gap on the bench. Their rumored transfer so as to add Russell Westbrook actually does not change what Caldwell-Pope did effectively.
Now Denver has misplaced Caldwell-Pope, who performed the third-most minutes on the staff final season, in addition to their No. 6 man in minutes, Reggie Jackson, traded to Charlotte in a money-saving transfer, with out contemporary replacements in sight.
When Bruce Brown turned a free agent final summer time, cap guidelines restricted Denver to providing him a deal beginning at $7.8M. He finally signed for $45M over two years. However the Nuggets may have matched or exceeded any deal for Caldwell-Pope, they merely selected to not. When an NBA staff has a participant who has gained three of the final 4 MVP trophies, that is not the time to get low-cost.
The Nuggets championship window bought loads narrower this week. Except there is a sophisticated transfer nonetheless on the best way, it seems to be like Kroenke & Co. are selecting cash over rings.
