Denver Nuggets

Denver Nuggets forward JaMychal Green has declined his $7.6 million player option for 2021-22 and will become an unrestricted free agent, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

Charania added that Green and the Nuggets have mutual interest in a new contract.

The 31-year-old averaged 8.1 points on 46.3 percent shooting (39.9 percent from three-point range) and 4.8 rebounds in his first season in Denver in 2020-21.

The 6'8" forward inked a two-year, $14.8 million contract with Denver before the 2020-21 season. He has played for the San Antonio Spurs, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers and Nuggets during his seven years in the NBA.

In 420 career regular-season games, Green owns averages of 8.1 points and 6.0 rebounds. That includes career highs of 10.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game with the Grizzlies in 2017-18.

Green primarily came off the bench in Denver save for a few spot starts. His three-point shooting prowess and rebounding abilities were beneficial as the Nuggets finished third in the Western Conference standings and reached the Western Conference Semifinals.

His presence in the rotation helped maintain Denver's strong standing in the West after point guard Jamal Murray suffered a season-ending torn ACL in April.

However, Denver may be in the market for another forward should it not re-sign Green.

Will Barton has been a staple in the Denver Nuggets' rotation for seven years, but his time with the Western Conference team may be coming to an end.

Barton declined his player option worth $14.7 million for the 2021-22 season, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

There was a time when it appeared the Memphis product wouldn't remain with the Nuggets for long after they acquired him from the Portland Trail Blazers in February 2015. Chris Haynes, who was with ESPN at the time, reported in December 2016 the Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans "reached out" to Denver with interest in him

What's more, Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post noted the 6'6" scorer was a "hot commodity" during the 2015-16 season and said some teams "even offered first-round picks for him."

However, the Nuggets kept Barton for multiple seasons.

He averaged double-figure scoring totals every year in Denver, including when he posted 15.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists a night in 2019-20 for a squad that reached the Western Conference Finals. He followed with 12.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in 2020-21, although he missed extensive time with a hamstring injury.

That Barton carved out such a key role with the Nuggets was notable because he didn't see much playing time in a rotation behind Wesley Matthews and CJ McCollum for the Trail Blazers after they selected him with a second-round pick in 2012.

He seized his opportunity to demonstrate what he could do at the NBA level in Denver as someone who can shoot from three-point range (38.1 percent in 2020-21), electrify the crowd with high-flying dunks, attack the basket and get involved on the boards on both ends of the floor.

While Barton won't be the biggest free-agent signing of the offseason, he will be a solid addition for whichever team gets him after he decided against exercising his option.

One week away from the start of the Tokyo Olympics, USA men's basketball has reportedly added JaVale McGee to the roster. 

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Denver Nuggets center will join Team USA's 12-man selection for the delayed 2020 Games.

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, McGee will fly to Las Vegas where Team USA is currently training on Saturday. 

The U.S. squad had two roster spots come open late in the process. USA Basketball announced on Thursday that Bradley Beal wouldn't travel with the team after being placed in the health and safety protocols. 

In addition to Beal, Charania reported Jerami Grant was also put in the health and safety protocols. 

Charania noted that Grant didn't test positive for COVID-19. It wasn't specified whether Beal tested positive for the virus. 

Kevin Love withdrew from the team on Friday, his agent Jeff Schwartz told Wojnarowski. 

This will mark McGee's first appearance on the U.S. men's national team. The 33-year-old previously received an invitation to participate in Team USA minicamp in 2009 and 2010, but he didn't make the final cut either time. 

McGee just finished his 13th season in the NBA. He was traded to the Nuggets by the Cleveland Cavaliers in March. 

USA men's basketball is playing in Group A at the Olympics, along with Iran, France and the Czech Republic. Its first game is scheduled for July 25 against France at Saitama Super Arena.    

Denver Nuggets assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr. has reportedly "emerged as a serious candidate" to fill the Orlando Magic's head coaching vacancy.

Josh Robbins and Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Thursday the Magic started the "next phase" of their coaching search by conducting a second interview with Unseld.

It's unclear how many candidates will receive second interviews. Others who've spoken with Orlando's front office include Willie Green (Phoenix Suns), Becky Hammon (San Antonio Spurs) and three of the team's own assistant coaches (Tyrone Corbin, Pat Delany and Steve Hetzel), per The Athletic.

University of Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway, who starred for the Magic during the first seven seasons of his NBA playing career in the mid-to-late 1990s, also spoke with the team but announced Tuesday he's staying with the Tigers to chase a college basketball national championship.

Orlando is seeking to replace Steve Clifford, who mutually parted ways with the organization in early June after the Magic failed to qualify for the playoffs. He posted a 96-131 record in three seasons that included two postseason appearances.

Unseld is seeking to become an NBA head coach for the first time after 16 years as an assistant. Before joining the Nuggets' staff in 2015, he spent time with the Washington Wizards, Golden State Warriors and Magic.

The Maryland native served as an assistant in Orlando under Jacque Vaughn from 2012 through 2015.

He was promoted to associate head coach by the Nuggets in December, and Denver head coach Michael Malone vouched for him as a future head coach.

"Wes is extremely deserving of this promotion. He is one of the hardest-working people I've come across in this league and he has been an integral part of my coaching staff since we both arrived in Denver in 2015," Malone said. "I've said it many times over the years that Wes is ready and deserving of a head coaching position in the NBA, and it's only a matter of time until that day comes."

While the Magic finished the 2020-21 season with the NBA's third-worst record at 21-51, they do have young roster with seven players 22 or younger under contract for next season and own the No. 5 pick in a talent-rich 2021 draft.

Denver Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly spoke with reporters Friday about a number of topics, including the possibility of extending forward Michael Porter Jr.'s contract.

Mike Singer of the Denver Post provided the details on Porter:

The 22-year-old Porter averaged 19.0 points on 54.2 percent shooting (44.5 percent from three-point range) and 7.3 rebounds per game for the Nuggets, who finished third in the Western Conference standings and reached the second round of the playoffs.

Per HoopsHype, Porter is scheduled to make $5,258,735 during the 2021-22 season. He's currently set to become a restricted free agent in 2022.

Porter has emerged as a breakout star for Denver, and it's easy to see why the Nuggets view him as a long-term piece for their core.

He notably dominated over a 15-game stretch after point guard Jamal Murray suffered a season-ending torn ACL on April 12.

During that span, Porter averaged 25.4 points on 57.9 percent shooting and 6.3 rebounds per game, according to Basketball-Reference.

His emergence helped Denver finish third in the Western Conference and defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs despite Murray's absence.

Denver selected Porter with the 14th overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft. He sat out the 2018-19 season after undergoing a second back surgery related to a back injury suffered during his lone campaign at the University of Missouri.

He also underwent a microdiscectomy in Nov. 2017 that kept him out for nearly all of his first-year campaign with the Tigers.

The Nuggets' gamble on Porter has paid off handsomely, however, as he's emerged as an efficient shooter and scorer. Now they'll hope to retain him long-term before other teams have a chance at inking him to a deal.

The Serbia men's national basketball team won't have Nikola Jokic for this summer's Olympic season. 

Per Marc Stein of the New York Times, Jokic announced on Wednesday that he won't play for his home country during Olympic qualifiers or if they advance to the Tokyo Games in order to rest after having a short offseason between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 NBA campaigns.

ESPN.com did note that it is "unclear" if Jokic will actually sit out the Olympics if Serbia qualifies. 

Jokic, who was named NBA MVP for the 2020-21 season, has been one of the most durable players in the league over the course of his career. The 26-year-old has never missed more than nine games in a season since 2015-16. 

Since the start of the 2019-20 campaign, Jokic has appeared in all 174 games for the Nuggets between the regular season and playoffs. 

Denver's run to the Western Conference Finals last season combined with a short offseason meant Jokic only had 87 days off until the start of this season. 

Jokic played on the Serbia national team during the 2016 Olympics. The country won a silver medal at the Rio Games, losing to the United States in the final. He averaged 9.1 points and 2.4 assists in eight appearances. 

Serbia is hosting a FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament and will play the Dominican Republic in group play on June 29. 

Men's basketball at the 2020 Olympics will begin in Tokyo on July 25. 

The Orlando Magic have reportedly requested to interview Denver Nuggets assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr., according to Mike Singer of the Denver Post.

Per that report, "The Nuggets promoted Unseld Jr. to associate head coach at the start of this season and he's been an invaluable piece to Mike Malone's staff."

Unseld Jr. has spent the past six years with the Nuggets, largely running the team's defensive schemes. Previously, he served as an assistant for the Orlando Magic (2012-2014) and the Golden State Warriors (2011-12 season). 

He also spent 13 years with the Washington Wizards, including six as an assistant coach (2005-11). 

"He is one of the hardest working people I’ve come across in this league and he has been an integral part of my coaching staff since we both arrived in Denver in 2015," Malone said last year after promoting Unseld to associate head coach. "I've said it many times over the years that Wes is ready and deserving of a head coaching position in the NBA and it's only a matter of time until that day comes."

Unseld Jr. interviewed for a number of head-coaching vacancies last year and was a "serious candidate" in the Chicago Bulls search, per Singer, before the team hired Billy Donovan.

So his name popping up in coaching searches this offseason isn't a surprise. The Magic are a developmental project, with any incoming coach needing to develop a young roster built around Jonathan Isaac, Markelle Fultz, Mo Bamba, Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton and any draft picks selected this summer. 

The Serbian national basketball team hasn't qualified for the Olympics yet, but the Denver Nuggets are concerned about the potential consequences for Nikola Jokic should they make it to Tokyo.

According to Mike Singer of the Denver Post, the Nuggets are worried about the reigning MVP's opportunities to rest should he represent his home country in Tokyo this summer.

Jokic has appeared in all 109 games the Nuggets have played since Aug. 1, and he finished the season third in total minutes with 2,488.

The Nuggets' season ended Sunday when they were swept by the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals.

The Nuggets tried to get Jokic to consider sitting at the end of the regular season, but he wouldn't relent. Head coach Michael Malone told reporters at the time that he respected Jokic's "pride" but stressed that he wanted the team to "be smart" heading into the postseason. 

Serbian website Mozzart Sport (h/t Emiliano Carchia of Sportando) reported Monday that Jokic is unlikely to join the team for the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, which is scheduled for June 29-July 4. 

Naturally, if Serbia makes it out of that tournament, Jokic is expected to earn a roster spot to represent his country. Bogdan Bogdanovic is also not likely to play in the qualifying tournament, according to the Mozzart Sport report.

Jokic helped Serbia to a silver medal in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He only has one other international medal, from the U19 World Championship when he helped the Serbian squad win silver in 2013. 

The 26-year-old averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists this season. 

A video of a Phoenix Suns fan getting in a fight with Denver Nuggets supporters went viral last week, and the Suns fan held up four fingers and said "Suns in four" after the altercation de-escalated. 

That prediction proved true, as the Suns completed the sweep Sunday. On Monday, Phoenix star Devin Booker referenced the incident in a tweet: 

The 24-year-old Booker was a huge reason the Suns brushed aside the Nuggets in four games, averaging 25.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the series. His 34 points in Game 4, alongside Chris Paul's 37, was too much for an undermanned Denver side without Jamal Murray to overcome. 

Game 4 wasn't without its own confrontations after league MVP Nikola Jokic was ejected for a very hard foul on Cameron Payne. He and Booker than came together for a rather epic staredown and exchange of words. 

So the Suns head to the Western Conference Finals, where they'll await the winner of the series between the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers. The Jazz are currently up 2-1 in that matchup. 

It's been a magical season for the Suns, who ended a playoff drought that had stretched to 10 years. Now, they'll try to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1992-93, when Charles Barkley, Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle lost in six games to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. 

Since the team's inception in the 1968-69 season, the Suns have reached the NBA Finals just twice and never won a championship. The hope is that the drought ends this year. They're eight wins away from making that dream a reality.

Sometimes you just have to tip your cap, and that is exactly what Nikola Jokic did after the Phoenix Suns completed their second-round sweep of the Denver Nuggets with a 125-118 victory in Sunday's Game 4.

"They beat us, they whupped our ass," he told reporters. "The whole team needs to walk out with their heads up. Sometimes the other team is better, and you have to accept it."

Jokic was largely impressive throughout the series, but he didn't help his team's cause when he was ejected in the third quarter Sunday for hitting Cameron Payne in the face as he went for the ball. Officials deemed it a flagrant-2 foul upon review and threw him out of the game.

The league MVP finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and four assists and was not on the floor for crunch time as Chris Paul (37 points, seven assists, three rebounds and two steals) and Devin Booker (34 points, 11 rebounds and four assists) put the Suns on their back.

To Denver's credit, it cut into Phoenix's double-digit lead in the fourth quarter even without Jokic, but the comeback effort ran out of steam as Paul made a number of clutch plays in the final minutes.

It is difficult to argue with Jokic's assessment.

The Suns won each of the first three games by double digits and were never truly challenged by the Nuggets. They have now won seven games in a row since they fell behind 2-1 against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round and look every bit the part of championship contender with Paul playing brilliant basketball.

Denver was always going to be fighting an uphill battle in this series without Jamal Murray, and it didn't have the firepower to keep up with a deep Phoenix attack.

Even when Jokic was unstoppable, such as when he posted a triple-double of 32 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in Game 3, the Suns had more offensive options to counter his production.

Perhaps the series would have been different with a healthy Murray, but, as Jokic said, Phoenix was the better team throughout the four games.