The Nuggets have unexpectedly emerged as the most talked-about team in the NBA. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets / Justin Tafoya/GettyImages. A lot was quiet during the Nuggets’ offseason, but now it feels like everything is happening at once. This is partly because the league’s news has slowed down, making it appear as though the Nuggets are the only team attracting attention at the moment after signing Jamal Murray to a four-year, maximum contract extension.
There were some fans and media members who weren’t sold on Murray and what we’ve seen from him recently in the playoffs and Olympics. But still, Murray is clearly the Nuggets’ second-best and most important player, and replacing him would have been nearly impossible.
Marc Stein believes Nuggets were headed towards a crisis
One of the most well-known and respected figures in NBA media, Marc Stein recently wrote a stack column about Denver and their offseason. Regarding the Murray signing, he said that it would have been “branded a crisis” if Murray had entered training camp without a new contract. Stein acknowledged that some in the league will view this as an overpayment for the 27-year-old, frequently injured Canadian guard, but he also readily acknowledged that the Nuggets had no other option and couldn’t risk splitting up Murray and Nikola Jokic.
This speaks to a general consensus that most people are content with the way things stand; even if it’s an uncomfortable agreement, the Nuggets have to re-sign Murray in order to maintain this championship core. Stein continued by saying that the Nuggets are among the league’s most intriguing teams and that it is unknown what is going on with Michael Malone and Calvin Booth, as well as Jokic’s thoughts on the matter.
Nuggets media day should come towards the end of September
Stein predicted that media day would take place around September 25th or 26th, which is right around the corner. He won’t be alone in his desire to hear what the Nuggets’ players, coaches, and front office members have to say. There is a world of intrigue surrounding this team as they enter the season, and we are all dying to see how it all looks on the court. He also pointed out that since the Nuggets open their preseason games in Abu Dhabi, they will be one of the first teams we get to see in action.