Denver let a number of gamers go, sacrificing veteran depth to save cash and keep underneath the second apron of the luxurious tax: Bruce Brown, Jeff Inexperienced and, most painfully this summer time, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. They paid to maintain Nikola Jokic and, most just lately, Jamal Murray within the Mile Excessive Metropolis.
Aaron Gordon should belong to the latter group. He’s at the moment eligible for an extension with a participant possibility for the 2025-26 season – if Denver would not prolong him, Gordon could be a free agent subsequent summer time. He would not need that, he needs to remain in Denver, Gordon mentioned at Nuggets media day.
“I actually like this group. I just like the gamers on this group. I just like the teaching employees. So I hope we get there. It looks like it is transferring in the proper course, so I am excited. I’m excited, I hope he will get prolonged and stays with this group.”
Gordon is a discount this season at $22.8 million, he’s now eligible to signal a four-year, $149.5 million extension, which looks like an affordable worth in immediately’s market. Gordon would not put up loopy stats — 13.9 factors and 6.5 rebounds per recreation final season — however he is a high-level defender who performs a high-IQ recreation and is aware of how you can regulate with Nikola Jokic.
The underside line: Denver would not have the championship banner it has with out Gordon and will not get one other one with out him. Nuggets GM Calvin Sales space understands this and he has made it clear that he needs to increase Gordon..
“I hope we’ve got productive discussions along with his illustration and may come to an settlement that satisfies us each. He is been an integral a part of what we have completed. And we would prefer to maintain him right here for a very long time.”
The Nuggets have to maintain him, and he isn’t the participant to pinch pennies with.
