Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets reportedly tried to make a big splash leading up to the 2020 NBA draft by calling the Washington Wizards about Bradley Beal.

Per Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, the Nuggets were among the teams that inquired about Beal's availability "in the days leading to the draft."

General manager Tommy Sheppard has made it clear he considers Beal to be the Wizards' franchise player and the cornerstone in their rebuild. 

"We're building this team around Bradley Beal," he said on The Lowe Post podcast last week (h/t RealGM.com). "He's a tremendous human being. He's a tremendous player. He's exactly what we want to have here with the Washington Wizards."

That comment may have set off John Wall, who hasn't played since Dec. 26, 2018 because of heel and Achilles injuries. 

Per NBC Sports Washington's Chris Miller, Wall "was surprised" by Sheppard's comments even though he "understood the thinking considering Beal has emerged as an All-NBA talent since Wall's absence."

On Friday night, though, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Wall "has made it clear" he wants to be traded by the Wizards.

Beal would almost certainly bring back more in a trade than Wall at this stage of their respective careers. Wall is owed $85.6 million over the next two seasons and has a player option worth $47.4 million in 2022-23. 

The Wizards have Beal under contract through the 2021-22 season for $63.2 million total. He also has a $37.2 million player option for 2022-23. The 27-year-old averaged a career-high 30.5 points and 6.1 assists per game last season.

The Nuggets are in the midst of a championship window, but they haven't been able to get over the hump in the Western Conference playoffs yet. Their interest in Beal makes sense based on where their roster is at right now, but the Wizards have given no indication they want to move him at this point.

The Denver Nuggets reportedly signed veteran forward JaMychal Green to a two-year contract in free agency Saturday.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the deal is worth $15 million and has a player option for the second season.

Green, 30, spent parts of the past two seasons as a key bench player for the Los Angeles Clippers after previous stints with the San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies.

Last season, Green appeared in 63 games, coming off the bench in all but one of them. In 20.7 minutes per contest, he averaged 6.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.5 three-pointers while shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from deep.

Green's greatest success came in Memphis, where he spent parts of five seasons. His most productive campaign was 2017-18 when he started 54 of the 55 games he appeared in and averaged a career-high 10.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists.

With Green departing, the Clippers have lost much of their frontcourt depth from last season, as reigning Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell has reportedly signed with the rival Los Angeles Lakers as well.

In an effort to soften the blow, the Clippers have reportedly re-signed both Marcus Morris and Patrick Patterson.

As a member of the Nuggets, Green will add to Denver's impressive depth. Since Paul Millsap is a free agent, Green's current role looks to be that of a backup to center Nikola Jokic and power forward Michael Porter Jr.

Green is joining a Nuggets team that is coming off an appearance in the Western Conference Finals after shocking his former team, the Clippers, in the second round of the playoffs last season.

Although he figures to come off the bench for the most part, Green showed that he could be an effective starter in Memphis, meaning Denver can feel comfortable about inserting him into the starting lineup if need be.

The Denver Nuggets must have been looking for scoring following Wednesday's 2020 NBA draft because they added one of the best college basketball had to offer this year when they signed Marquette guard Markus Howard as an undrafted free agent, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Markus Howard

Position: PG

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 180

Pro Comparison: Chris Clemons

Scouting Report: At 5'11", Markus Howard led the nation in scoring, mostly because of his lethal pull-up game. He'd have more fans if he provided more playmaking at his size, but it's worth finding out how far Howard's elite shot-making could take him.

          

Here is a look at how he could fit in with the rest of the roster:

Nuggets Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

Markus Howard, PG

Jamal Murray, PG: $33.9M (2025)

Nikola Jokic, C: $29.5M (2023)

Gary Harris, SG: $21M (2022)

Will Barton, SG: $13.3M (2022)

Michael Porter Jr., PF: $3.3M (2022)

Vlatko Cancar, SF: $1.4M (2022)

Monte Morris, PG: $1.6M (2021)

Keita Bates-Diop, SF: $1.3M (2021)

P.J. Dozier, PG: $1.2M (2022)

Bol Bol, C: (2021)

Zeke Nnaji, PF: Rookie scale contract (2024)

RJ Hampton, PG: Rookie scale contract (2024)

     

Free Agents

Paul Millsap, PF: UFA

Mason Plumlee, C: UFA

Jerami Grant, SF: Player option

Torrey Craig, SF: RFA

Noah Vonleh, PF: UFA

Tyler Cook, PF: UFA

        

Howard arrived at Marquette as a 4-star prospect in the class of 2016, per 247Sports' composite rankings, and built one of the best resumes in Big East history during his four years at the school. He won the Big East Player of the Year and was a two-time consensus All-American, three-time All-Big East selection and Big East All-Freshman selection.

The 21-year-old was an elite scorer who averaged 13.2 points per game as a freshman and built on that every season with 20.4 points per game as a sophomore, 25.0 points per game as a junior and 27.8 points per game as a senior.

While Howard was a high-volume shooter, he put up those numbers at a fairly efficient clip thanks in large part to his career 42.7 percent shooting mark from three-point range and tendency to get to the free-throw line. He shot 8.6 free throws per game during his senior season.

All that scoring over the course of four years naturally led to record-breaking efforts.

In a February loss to Villanova, he became the Big East's all-time leading scorer in league games with 1,408 points. He also broke Jerel McNeal's all-time career Marquette scoring record of 1,985 points, surpassing the total in the first game of his final season.

Despite the high-scoring totals, Howard was not seen as a surefire pick leading up to the draft.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman did not include him in the first round of a mock draft in October, and Howard passed on the opportunity to enter the 2019 NBA draft after his junior season.

Still, he could find a significant role in Denver's rotation, especially in today's game that is largely predicated on pace-and-space and outside shooting.

There are few better places for sharp-shooters who can take advantage of open space to go than the Nuggets. Look for Howard to take full advantage of the open looks playing alongside Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic creates.

He is also someone who can run the offense with the second unit while Murray is on the bench.

The Denver Nuggets used the No. 24 overall pick of the 2020 NBA draft to select RJ Hampton after a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. 

Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: RJ Hampton

Position: SG

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 185

Pro Comparison: Michael Carter-Williams

Scouting Report: A prototypical combo guard, RJ Hampton comes with 6'5" size, explosive athleticism for attacking and playmaking skills. He can be used on the ball to drive and set the table for teammates, and the hope is that he continues to make progress with his spot-up and pull-up jumper. Shooting can be a key swing skill that could elevate Hampton from role player to valued starter and featured scorer.

      

Here is how the guard fits with the new team's roster.

     

Nuggets Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

Jamal Murray, PG: $31.7M (2025)

Nikola Jokic, C: $29.5M (2023)

Gary Harris, SG: $21M (2022)

Will Barton, SG: $13.3M (2022)

Michael Porter Jr., PF: $3.3M (2022)

Monte Morris, PG: $1.6M (2021)

Vlatko Cancar, SF: $1.4M (2022)

Keita Bates-Diop, SF: $1.3M (2021)

P.J. Dozier, PG: $1.2M (2022)

Bol Bol, C: (2021)

Zeke Nnaji, PF: Rookie scale contract (2024)

RJ Hampton, PG: Rookie scale contract (2024)

   

Free Agents

Paul Millsap, PF: UFA

Mason Plumlee, C: UFA

Jerami Grant, SF: Player option

Torrey Craig, SF: RFA

Noah Vonleh, PF: UFA

Tyler Cook, PF: UFA

      

Hampton was a 5-star recruit out of high school and rated the No. 5 overall player in the 2019 class by 247Sports. Instead of going to college, the Texas native decided to sign a pro contract with the New Zealand Breakers in Oceania's NBL.

The 6'5" guard had an up-and-down showing in 2019-20, finishing with 8.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 29.4 percent from three-point range. A hip injury ended his season after 15 games, and he returned to the United States.

Even with limited production on the court, Hampton said the experience was good for his development, per Scott Chasen of 247Sports:

"You see a lot of hype with college. But I'm going up against guys like Sek Henry, Scotty Hopson, those established overseas pros for 10-11 years, every single day in practice. I mean, they're not taking it easy on me. So from when I was first in my NBL games in October until January, I think I've gotten so much better just practice-wise. I mean, I'm going up against those guys every single day. I don't think I could have asked for better competition, for sure."

Hampton is a raw prospect with the need to add strength as well as improve as a shooter and passer.

Despite the question marks, his potential remains high thanks to his ability to attack the rim and score in the paint. Even if the Nuggets bring him along slowly during his first year in the NBA, Hampton has a chance to be a productive player in the future.

The Nuggets have gone with high-upside prospects like Michael Porter Jr. and Bol Bol in the past few years, and they're looking to cash in with another top option this time around. 

Arizona Wildcats forward Zeke Nnaji is headed to Denver to play for the Nuggets after going 22nd overall in the NBA draft.

       

Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Zeke Nnaji

Position: PF/C

Height: 6'11"

Weight: 240

Pro Comparison: Taj Gibson

Scouting Report: Nnaji could carve out a long career just by finishing, creating second-chance opportunities and using his touch on shots around the key. But scouts believe he has more shooting potential to unlock, and they've raved about his humble demeanor and effort—intangibles that point to a positive locker room presence and a player who'll maximize his potential.

         

Here is what the Nuggets' roster looks like following this pick:

Nuggets Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

Jamal Murray, PG: $31.7M (2025)

Zeke Nnaji, PF/C: Rookie scale contract (2024)

Nikola Jokic, C: $29.5M (2023)

Gary Harris, SG: $21M (2022)

Will Barton, SG: $13.3M (2022)

Michael Porter Jr., PF: $3.3M (2022)

Monte Morris, PG: $1.6M (2021)

Vlatko Cancar, SF: $1.4M (2022)

Keita Bates-Diop, SF: $1.3M (2021)

P.J. Dozier, PG: $1.3M (2022)

Bol Bol, C: (2021)

Free Agents

Paul Millsap, PF: UFA

Mason Plumlee, C: UFA

Jerami Grant, SF: Player option

Torrey Craig, SF: RFA

Noah Vonleh, PF: UFA

Tyler Cook, PF: UFA

         

If Nnaji is going to unlock his shooting potential, he found an ideal landing spot.

Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic figure to attract most of the defensive attention in Denver, meaning the rookie will have plenty of open space to work with as soon as his first season. If he delivers on those shots and works his way into the rotation, he can help a championship contender compete in the daunting Western Conference.

Small forward Jerami Grant is heading to free agency after reportedly declining his 2021 player option with the Denver Nuggets on Monday, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.  

Grant would have earned $9.34 million in his age-26 season had he exercised the option. 

In his lone season with Denver, Grant averaged 12 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 40 percent from three while adding 11.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in the postseason.

The former 39th overall pick of the Philadelphia 76ers in 2014 has spent plenty of time switching teams through his first five seasons in the league. Now, he's ready to move on from the Nuggets. 

After two years in Philadelphia, Grant was sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder in November 2016 for Ersan Ilyasova and a draft pick. The Syracuse alum signed a three-year, $27.3 million deal with OKC, but despite marked improvement in his game, he was traded again to Denver for a 2020 first-round pick in July 2019. 

As the Nuggets have become a contender in the Western Conference, Grant filled in well off the bench behind Paul Millsap. 

Now, though, he's decided to test free agency and can finally be in charge of where he'll play next.

The Denver Nuggets are reportedly considered a "strong threat" to land New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday in a trade.

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reported the Nuggets are one of "several" teams that have attempted to trade into the top 10 of Wednesday's draft to reroute the pick to New Orleans.

The Nuggets have a number of ready-made young talents who could head to the Pelicans without the need for a high draft pick being attached.

Denver's trade package would almost certainly be headed by Gary Harris for salary-matching purposes, along with young players like Bol Bol and PJ Dozier and a first-round pick. It would be a major surprise if the Nuggets were willing to part with Michael Porter Jr. in trade talks for Holiday, who is a very good two-way player who nevertheless has just one All-Star selection to his name.

Holiday would instantly step into the starting lineup next to Jamal Murray, giving Denver one of the strongest backcourts in the NBA. Murray excelled in the postseason as an iso-scoring maven with the ball in his hands, and Holiday is capable of playing off the ball while defending the opposing team's lead ball-handler.

Coming off a run to the Western Conference Finals, Denver fashions itself as a championship contender. Adding Holiday would give the Nuggets one of the most complete rotations in the sport, especially if Porter winds up blossoming into a bona fide star.

The Pelicans are in the midst of a rebuild around Zion Williamson, and the 30-year-old Holiday is an imperfect fit to their contention timeline despite being beloved in the locker room. 

The Denver Nuggets reportedly tried to acquire New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard Jrue Holiday for guard Gary Harris and wing Will Barton at the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline.

Michael Scotto discussed the situation on the HoopsHype Podcast: 

"The Nuggets, I had heard, back toward the trade deadline, made a run to try to acquire him. Guys like Will Barton and Gary Harris being dangled out there. Obviously that didn't come to fruition, but it'd be interesting to see if those talks resurface again and if Denver can maybe add something else to that to get it over the hump."

Scotto added that Holiday is "a guy that's certainly is going to have interest around the league."

Holiday averaged 19.1 points, 6.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game for the Pels during the 2019-20 campaign. He also finished 16th out of 138 qualified shooting guards in defensive real plus-minus, per ESPN.com.

Barton averaged 15.1 points and a career-high 6.3 rebounds per contest , while Harris posted 10.4 points and 2.9 boards and finished fourth in defensive real plus-minus among shooting guards.

Holiday is due $25.1 million in base salary next season and has a 2021-22 player option for $26.3 million.

The 30-year-old would theoretically be a better fit on the Nuggets—a title-contending team that reached the Western Conference Finals last year—than the Pels, a young and rebuilding franchise built around superstar Zion Williamson.

Holiday could slide into shooting guard alongside Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray, instantly helping to keep Denver as a top threat in the West.

However, the Nuggets likely wouldn't be the only team interested in Holiday's services given his excellent two-way game.

Still, Mike Singer of the Denver Post believes Holiday makes sense in the Mile High City: "I love it. I strongly believe the Holiday-Denver chatter is still real. League insiders believe there aren’t too many realistic landing spots for Holiday, assuming the Pelicans want to move him. At some point, all the rumors take a toll and they might have no choice but to move him."

The 2020 NBA draft is scheduled for Wednesday, while free agency will open next Friday. The 2020-21 season will begin Dec. 22.   

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and longtime girlfriend Natalija Macesic were married Saturday in Serbia.

Video from the ceremony shows the couple dancing and singing:

Nikola Jokic singing and dancing at his wedding is the best thing you'll watch today

(via @parallelecinico)pic.twitter.com/nggjkDJyjb

— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) October 25, 2020

Jokic and Macesic have been together since 2013.

Eurohoops noted their wedding was originally scheduled for June but was later pushed back amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The NBA resumed play in July, and Jokic himself tested positive for the virus in June. 

Kroenke Sports & Entertainment reached a deal with Ball Corporation to rename Pepsi Center, which houses the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets.

New name, same game.

We’re excited to provide our fans with a more environmentally friendly visitor experience! #BallArena x #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/RBfRNzui2F

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 22, 2020

New name.
New future.
Same memories.#BallArena #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/QQ4v7A7TnW

— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 22, 2020

A statement on the Avalanche's official website said the deal is centered on "a shared vision to advance sustainability in sports and entertainment by strengthening in-venue aluminum recycling, providing fans with a more environmentally friendly fan experience and showcasing aluminum beverage packaging as the most sustainable choice."

According to the Denver Post's Mike Singer, representatives from KSE and Ball Corporation initially began discussions more than a year ago, but their scope was limited to how Ball could be "sustainability partners." Then rebranding Pepsi Center became a possibility.

Ball will work with Premier League club Arsenal and the Los Angeles Rams, both of which are owned by KSE, and thus provide in-arena services at Emirates Stadium in London and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

At what's now Ball Arena, Ball and KSE will work toward creating "a comprehensive recycling and sustainability plan" that includes using aluminum packaging for all beverages. The aluminum packaging would be recycled and used again.

https://twitter.com/nuggets/status/1319279843599499269

Ball will attempt something similar at SoFi Stadium and the Rams' team facilities.

Ball Arena was completed in 1999, replacing McNichols Sports Arena as the home of the Avs and Nuggets. Pepsi had served as the venue's primary sponsor since its opening.