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NBA Free Agency: Grading all 30 teams on signings and trades

By Josh Cornelissen

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 29: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors waves to his family during a game against the Sacramento Kings at Amalie Arena on January 29, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 29: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors waves to his family during a game against the Sacramento Kings at Amalie Arena on January 29, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. /
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NBA Free Agency
NBA free agency Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images /

2021 NBA Free Agency Grades: Denver Nuggets

Key Additions: Jeff Green (2 years, $10 million)

Brought Back: JaMychal Green (2 years, $17 million); Will Barton (2 years, $32 million); Austin Rivers (1 year, undisclosed)

The Denver Nuggets looked like a title contender last season until Jamal Murray tore his ACL, and they are likely hoping to have the right roster in place to make a run in the playoffs once Murray returns if he can return before the end of this season. To that end, they brought back three rotation players in JaMychel Green, Will Barton and Austin Rivers. They also signed Jeff Green away from the Brooklyn Nets, another rangy defender who can shoot from the corners.

Denver is hoping Michael Porter Jr. continues to develop, and the frontcourt pairing of Porter, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic ends up the best in the league. They didn’t really have much flexibility, but they paid more than seemed necessary to bring back JaMychal Green. The contracts for Barton and Jeff Green are reasonable, and bringing back Rivers was a great move.

Could the Nuggets have made a bigger splash, perhaps finding a guard with better creation ability than Barton? Perhaps, but most of the top options went fast and they have (and had) very limited financial flexibility. They like Monte Morris and they like Facundo Campazzo, and with Jokic running the show they hope that can be enough.

Grade: B-

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