The Denver Nuggets don't yet look like a contender in the Western Conference after a shaky start. They have had to rely on superstar Nikola Jokic to pick up the slack and he has answered the call, playing up to his three-time MVP level right out of the gate. Their poor play may soon be made worse by the absence of Aaron Gordon, who is expected to be out for weeks.
That is a blow to their already paper-thin depth. While they have a full 15-man roster, they were already reportedly mulling over signing guard Lonnie Walker IV, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. Walker IV went unsigned for most of the offseason before signing an unorthodox deal with the Boston Celtics to try and make their roster.
It didn't work out for him and he was forced to take a deal abroad even though he definitely has NBA talent. He has elite athleticism and shot a career-high from three last season for the Brooklyn Nets. As a microwave scorer off the bench, he would be a good fit on just about any team, and given how poor the Nuggets bench has been, including with Russell Westbrook, taking a flyer on him seems like a no-brainer.
Should the Denver Nuggets sign Lonnie Walker IV?
If they can clear out a roster spot, then the answer is yes. The Nuggets are already short on 3-point shooting and Walker shot 38.8% from deep last season and also has skill as a slasher. He might not immediately crack their rotation with Denver seemingly prioritizing playing their young players. However, he could and probably would be able to carve out a role in their rotation.
There are obvious salary cap implications with the Nuggets being above the first tax apron and only a few million below the second apron. To sign Walker, they would have to waive or trade a player and only sign him to a minimum contract.
That is a possibility, and they shouldn't have to worry about being hard-capped with the second tax apron. With no other option that could potentially move the needle, taking a chance on adding Walker in free agency would make sense for the Nuggets.
Especially given how much they have struggled to start the season. All in all, the Nuggets have been linked to Walker and they should consider signing him given what he could bring to the table.