Fresh off losing the fight to defend their title, the Denver Nuggets are looking for ways to catch up to the competition. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Anthony Slater, the 2023 champions are a team to watch as a landing spot for Klay Thompson, should he end up leaving the Warriors this summer.
“A league source said Philadelphia has an interest in Thompson. If the Nuggets lose free-agent-to-be Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who has decided to decline his player option and enter the market, a league source said Denver has pegged Thompson as a possible replacement.”
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been a major factor in the Nuggets‘ success. The 31-year-old shooting guard averaged 10.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game last season and was reliable on both ends during their title run in 2023. But with Pope at the end of his contract, the Nuggets could lose him for nothing this summer and it would be a massive blow if they didn’t have anyone to replace him.
With Nikola Jokic still in his prime and Jamal Murray committed to staying loyal for the next few years, the Nuggets have a window to compete with the best teams in the league and they don’t want to waste it by being complacent. And while Klay is no longer the All-Star he once was, he is still someone who can make a big difference both on the court and in the locker room.
As an experienced and proven veteran, Klay Thompson is someone who could fill the Nuggets’ needs offensively and provide immediate relief in the backcourt. The 6’6″guard is undoubtedly on the decline but his perimeter shooting and championship experience would greatly complement Jokic’s game. Even at 34, Thompson would provide crucial floor spacing for the Nuggets as he did for the Warriors last season with an average of 17.9 points on 38.7% shooting from three.
Klay is obviously hungry to win a championship again and the Nuggets will always be in contention as long as Nikola Jokic is in the lineup. Klay, even in his current form, can help even the odds for the Nuggets and give them another lethal weapon for Jokic to unlock.
The only question regarding Thompson is if he’s serious about potentially leaving the Warriors. Negotiations are going pretty badly right now but it’s still hard to believe that he’ll leave behind his friends and over a decade’s worth of history behind.
For the Nuggets to draw the ear of Klay, they’ll have to make a serious pitch to lure him from the Warriors, but giving him trust, faith, and respect for his status might be all they need to get serious consideration. The 5x All-Star, who will be pursued by various teams this summer, will have the final say in choosing his next team and it could have major implications on the power rankings in the West.
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