By Jordan Long
The Denver Nuggets start the 2021-2022 season against the Phoenix Suns on October 20th. Denver is looking to earn a playoff spot for the 4th year in a row. They have championship aspirations. The Nuggets decided to extend power forward Aaron Gordon with a 4 year, $92 million extension. The deal includes $88 million in base salary and $4 million in incentives.
Gordon was traded to the Denver Nuggets on March 25th along with Gary Clark. The Nuggets gave up Gary Harris, R.J. Hampton, and a 1st-round draft pick to the Orlando Magic. Denver needed a defensive player and Gordon fit that bill. He was matched up on the opponent’s best shooter. Gordon could also box out and give Denver 2nd chance opportunities on offense. On defense, he made sure teams didn’t have another chance to score.
In 26 regular season games for the Nuggets, Gordon put up 10.2 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. On the defensive side of the ball, Gordon had 3.2 rebounds. He made the player he was guarding have tough looks at the hoop. Those were misses and rebound chances for the Nuggets. Those plays don’t show up on the stat sheet.
The Nuggets ended up as the 3rd seed in the NBA playoffs even without one of their best players, Jamal Murray, who tore his ACL. They knocked off the Portland Trailblazers in 6 games before being swept by the Phoenix Suns in the 2nd-round. In the postseason, Gordon averaged 11.1 points, 2 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game.
The Nuggets didn’t have to do this contract now. Gordon had one year left on his current agreement. They could have let him play on it and possibly let him become a free agent. The only problem with that at the end of 2022, another team could talk to him, give him a large deal and Denver would have been looking for a replacement. Gordon is now going to be in Denver for the next 4 years. The Nuggets core of Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr., Murray, and Gordon have a chance to win a championship. Unfortunately, Murray won’t be back until late in 2022.
The Nuggets now need to focus their attention on Michael Porter Jr. His contract runs out at the end of 2022. He is a restricted free agent. This means if a team offers Porter a contract, the Nuggets can match it. Porter could get a five-year, $172 million pact from the Nuggets. Denver has been in talks with him but nothing is done yet. Soon it could be. They know Porter Jr. is a piece they need to win an NBA Championship. Once they lock Porter up long-term with their young core the Denver Nuggets might be a threat every year to make a deep run in the playoffs. Hopefully, Denver can find a way to win the NBA Championship for the first time in their franchise history.
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