Unfortunate news: KLAY THOMPON refuses to continue with nuggets for the price of $75 million, he is no longer defined as.
The Denver Nuggets are looking into free agency guard Klay Thompson, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Anthony Slater. “If the Nuggets lose free-agent-to-be Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who has elected to decline his player option and enter the market, a league source says Denver has identified Thompson as a potential replacement. Caldwell-Pope, as it were, is seen to be a strong contender for Orlando. Depending on Thompson’s price, a few other teams are also interested in him. As Amick and Slater pointed out, the Nuggets are in danger of losing free agent wing Kentavious Caldwell Pope. He has been a regular starter for the team for the past two years, offering solid perimeter defense and shooting 41.5% from three.Caldwell-Pope declined his $15 million player option and is expected to get a lot of interest on the open market.
The Nuggets will need a quality replacement for the veteran wing, and they have high expectations. Thompson, 34, is no longer at his peak, but he remains a superb shooting guard. With Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray as teammates, he is a career 41.3 percent three-point shooter who will have plenty of opportunities. Thompson averaged 17.9 points per game last season while playing less minutes.The Warriors offered Thompson a two-year, $48 million contract deal last offseason, but he declined, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Can the Nuggets top that price? Caldwell-Pope declined his $15 million player option, but he could potentially earn $20 million or more per year on his next contract. That might benefit Denver as they chase Thompson. For example, if Caldwell-Pope signs a three-year, $75 million contract, the Nuggets may extend that to Thompson as well. Then they may sign and trade KCP to his desired destination. KCP’s new team would transfer assets to the Warriors, while the Nuggets would acquire Thompson.
For example, if Caldwell-Pope signs a three-year, $75 million contract, the Nuggets may extend that to Thompson as well. Then they may sign and trade KCP to his desired destination. KCP’s new team would transfer assets to the Warriors, while the Nuggets would acquire Thompson. In order for it to happen, Caldwell-Pope would have to sign with a team that lacks the cap space to sign him outright. The Dallas Mavericks are one option. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, KCP and the Mavericks have “mutual interest”. The Nuggets’ second option would be to sign Thompson and then trade him to the Warriors. As a second tier team, they are unable to aggregate salary during moves. As a result, they would have to relocate either Michael Porter Jr, or Aaron Gordon in a hypothetical trade.