Following the devastating injury to Jamal Murray, the Denver Nuggets are going to do everything they can to keep their team afloat in the loaded Western Conference.
Naturally, their first order of business was to find a replacement for their injured star, and it seems they already have a target in mind: free agent guard Austin Rivers. Here’s the report, as told by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Free agent guard Austin Rivers and the Denver Nuggets are in serious talks toward a deal, pending health and safety protocols, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 14, 2021
Rivers isn’t nearly on the same level as Murray, but he’s a pretty strong acquisition nonetheless.
As a spark plug and playmaker off the bench, he brings a lot to the table offensively. This season, he is averaging 7.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2 assists per game on 43% shooting.
Alongside Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon, he could thrive, and the Nuggets can still maintain their place in the Western playoff picture.
Without Murray, though, their chances of making any kind of noise remain slim. He is their second-best player and a true offensive star. They’ll be missing him for the rest of this campaign.
For now, they’ll have to see how far they can go with Rivers at the helm.
