With a large majority of the team that participated in and won the NBA Finals the previous season, the Denver Nuggets have a very strong roster. They only made 33.4% of their long ball attempts in the postseason, though, as they had trouble shooting the ball well.
That placed them 11th out of the 16 playoff teams.
A trade could be essential since there is an offseason to make the required adjustments yet there are few possibilities due to the CBA’s tougher regulations.
Calvin Booth, general manager of the Nuggets, needs to manage the team’s championship window carefully. Consequently, we’re here to assist: arrange a deal for Wizards guard Corey Kispert,” Paul Klee of the Denver Gazzette wrote on May 26. “Outside shooting is what the Nuggets need. Kispert’s 3-pointer is more appropriate for a how-to video. At 25, he is more suitable for a contender like Denver than a rebuild like Washington.
The fifteenth overall pick in the 2021 draft was Kispert.
The 6-foot-7 swingman scored 13.4 points per game on average last season, shooting 38.3% from beyond the arc, a career-high. Furthermore, he performed worse than his career-high 42.4% on somewhat fewer attempts in 2022–2023.
Kispert has a $5.7 million cap hit in 2024–2025 and is entering the last year of a four-year, $16.4 million deal.
In 2025, Kispert will become eligible for restricted free agency, thus giving the organization two years of control.
Klee added, “I have a feeling Kispert is dying to be a part of a beautiful, selfless offense like he had at Gonzaga.” When Michael Porter Jr., Jamal Murray, and him are added, Nikola Jokic has three outside threats to choose from for the Nuggets. In addition, Craig, the father of Corey, played high school ball under Denver Christian legend Dick Katte.
If Kispert had taken more three-pointers against the Nuggets last season, he would have been in second place. And only Porter was more efficient on as many tries, even though his efficiency would have placed him in ninth place.
This summer, the Nuggets may potentially lose Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Jackson, their third and fourth-best shooters (in terms of volume), to free agency.
But it could be difficult to import Kispert, particularly if the Nuggets manage to avoid paying the second tax apron.
“Denver is a first-apron team through June 30. In a deal, taking back additional money is prohibited. The $189.6 million second apron for the next season will be activated if it aggregates contracts or transfers cash in a trade, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. “If this roster stays in place, they will surpass the second apron.”
In accordance with league regulations, the Nuggets may put together a package for Kispert that includes a few smaller contracts to equal his pay. However, it is dangerous to activate the hard cap for a player who is so close to entering the market.
The real cost-per-dollar value as a luxury tax club may make the contract unappealing for Booth and Co., even with Kispert’s Bird Rights in free agency.
Murray’s and maybe Aaron Gordon’s contract extensions must also be planned upon by Denver.
Caldwell-Pope was acquired by the Nuggets in 2022. To revitalize a squad that is still designed to win now, it could make sense to go back to that well. Even with the young players Christian Braun and Peyton Watson making progress this season, it remains the case.
