The Denver Nuggets are coming off another disappointing postseason, having been eliminated in the second round for the second consecutive year—this time in a seven-game series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With back-to-back second-round exits, the team may look to shake up its roster this offseason in hopes of building a stronger supporting cast around three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who just completed arguably the best season of his career.
The Nuggets could choose to stick with their current core of Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., and Christian Braun, but some adjustments may be necessary as they continue their push for another championship.
One pressing decision involves veteran guard Russell Westbrook, who declined his player option and is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Denver could attempt to re-sign him, but if that doesn’t happen, they’ll need to explore other options to fill the backup point guard role.
Among those options is Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, whom the Nuggets have recently been linked to. According to Bovada, Denver has the second-best odds (+350) to land Rozier in a trade, with the Los Angeles Clippers slightly ahead as the frontrunner (+325).
Rozier is entering the final year of his contract, and given his underwhelming performance last season, Miami’s asking price is expected to be relatively low. The 31-year-old averaged just 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 39.1% from the field and 29.5% from beyond the arc in 64 games—a significant drop-off from previous seasons.
Due to these struggles, the Nuggets may ultimately decide to look elsewhere for a more reliable backup guard, though a new environment could potentially help Rozier regain his form.
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