The Denver Nuggets narrowly missed the playoffs. Now they face some tough decisions in the offseason. What free agents can and should they target?
The 2016-17 NBA season was a wild ride for the Denver Nuggets. They seem to have exceeded expectations, assuming that’s possible after narrowly missing out on the playoffs and trading a center to the division rival that leapfrogged you for the eighth seed.
Disappointing, but not devastating when put into context. The Jusuf Nurkic trade backfired, but it did give way for the emergence of Nikola Jokic. Denver may have found its franchise cornerstone moving forward with the 22-year-old Serbian big man.
They also saw the emergence of Gary Harris as one of the top young guards in the league. He was one of the best players on the team in the second half of the season and he developed important chemistry with Jokic. Harris shot 54.5 percent on attempts following a pass from Nikola.
Now, following Danilo Gallinari‘s announcement of an impending opt-out, the Nuggets will have some tough financial decisions to make. Before any real moves can happen in free agency, Denver must make a decision on what to do with Gallo.
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This requires some serious reflection and answering questions which will help shape the team’s identity moving forward.
This list is meant to highlight the many paths that the general manager Tim Connelly and his staff can take this summer, ranging from practical options to pipe dreams. Should they keep Gallo and run it back with the young core? Should they break the bank for a star?
Let’s dive into Denver’s free agency options.