September 14th 2024.
In the world of basketball, it's often said that dynasties come in threes. We've seen it with the likes of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green for the Golden State Warriors, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili for the San Antonio Spurs, and most recently, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh for the Miami Heat. And now, we have the Denver Nuggets with their own trio of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. But let's not forget the newest addition to their roster, Aaron Gordon, who is also signed through 2025.
However, despite the excitement surrounding this group of talented players, there are some concerns among the Grading The Week crew regarding the future of the Nuggets. But before we dive into that, let's take a closer look at each player's recent contract extensions.
First up, Murray's extension, which the team has given a B-plus grade. When news of his four-year, $208.5 million deal surfaced, the crew was on their way back home to the Front Range, stopping for some local bites like Runzas and Valentino's Pizza. After some time to process the Blue Arrow's new contract, they came to a few conclusions.
One, Josh Kroenke, the owner of the Nuggets, is a man of his word. He promised to lock Murray up after a disappointing playoff run, and he followed through despite Murray's lackluster performance at the Summer Olympics. Two, Murray now has a responsibility to hold up his end of the deal. With the prime of his career upon him, he needs to do whatever it takes to stay physically and mentally ready for the intense postseason battles to come. Three, the Nuggets' general manager, Calvin Booth, wouldn't have been able to find a player of Murray's caliber on the open market, especially with the team's limited cap space and future draft pick assets. And finally, despite being the highest-paid player without an All-Star or All-NBA selection, Murray's partnership with Jokic is a vital part of the team's success, making it a no-brainer to keep them together.
Now, let's turn our attention to Aaron Gordon, whose future with the Nuggets is still uncertain. The team has given him an incomplete grade, and for a good reason. While locking up Jokic and Murray through their 30s guarantees the Nuggets an elite offensive duo and a playoff contender for at least the next five years, it's the addition of a third star that could potentially solidify their dynasty status.
Looking at recent NBA champions, we see that they all had a core third player to support their star duo. And while Michael Porter Jr. has shown flashes of brilliance, the crew is not entirely convinced that he is the missing piece to the Nuggets' puzzle. That title belongs to Aaron Gordon, who has been a perfect fit alongside Jokic and Murray. He brings unselfishness, intelligence, physicality, athleticism, and a variety of skills that complement the strengths of his teammates. However, there are concerns about his age (turning 29 on Monday) and his player option for the 2025-26 season.
With an impressive $22.8 million option, Gordon could opt for free agency and potentially join a team with more cap space. And this is where the Nuggets' commitment to building a dynasty will truly be tested. Will they be aggressive in offering him an extension, or will they let him walk and potentially miss out on their chance at creating a true powerhouse team? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: the Nuggets have the pieces in place to become a dominant force in the NBA, and it's up to them to make it happen.
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