When MPJ signed his contract, he had just put up 19/7 on 54/45 shooting and was playing some defense and Joker took the leap to make his first MVP. He was clearly an elite movement shooter that could defend some, and that is exactly what you would want with the point-center. Then he had back surgery the next season, and he has been good, but not quite as good as he was before. It was still a 25% max instead of a 30% max.Woods Ag said:Guitarsoup said:Nuggets have to pay Malone like 17M to not coach anymore. Contract is guaranteed.Dan Scott said:
NBA owners can't get rid of the players salary, is this a way to cut coaching salary. Owners probably feel the coach is replaceable so replace with a cheaper option than pay a premium for a HCOY candidate
Their cap is super screwed. They had to let KCP, Uncle Jeff, and others go because they overpaid Murray and MPJ, then they gave Murray a 30% max extension that starts next year. Murray has averaged under 50 games played per season over the last 6 seasons including this year. He has 0 ASG and 0 All-NBAs and 0 All-Defense. They are over the 1st apron next year, even if Brodie opts out. And they desperately need to keep him. Also, next year repeater tax hits and they are dangerously close to the 2nd apron.
Their biggest problem is their bench, but they don't really have a good way to upgrade it.
Murray isn't the problem. It's MPJ contract. Murray's injustices are unfortunate, and he took a while to get going this year after whatever was wrong with him this summer and early season. Lingering injuries. But when he's right, he's right. I'm of the opinion, with a few exceptions like Kawahi/Embiid, that you make moves based on player ability and pray for no injuries. There are a few that you just don't bet on, but I don't think Murray is one of those.
MPJ fleeced the Nuggets and they e been screwed since.
You are right, when Murray is on, he is an All-NBA level player, but he is not on all the time. Plus all the injuries (again under 50 games per season over the last 6 seasons, no seasons with over 65 games in that time. Giving him a 30% max that starts next year is absolutely awful. They weren't bidding against anyone. Like MPJ, Murray's first extension makes some sense. He played nearly every game in his first three years and was improving. But he was 18/5/4 guy with ok shooting (.437/.367) But the best ability is availability and Murray is out so much, and he is not the 23 championship run Jamal Murray so much. That is not a 30% max guy. He had a great Feb and March, so if he can get healthy for the playoffs, maybe he can play like 23 Playoff Murray again.
Porter at least played 81 games last year and is at 74 this year. And he is again putting up great shooting splits for a 6'10 guy at .504/.393.
The problem is neither is worth a max contract, and both are getting it. Murray has flashes where he is, but it is inconsistent, like his availability. I really think it is the cumulative effect of both producing less than their cap hit. Murray's cap hit next year is the same as Donovan Mitchell and more than Luka, Trae, and Ant.