Michael Porter Jr. trade gave Nuggets more free agent money. Who can they target?
By trading Michael Porter Jr to Brooklyn for Cam Johnson the Nuggets created more flexibility for themselves on the NBA free agent arena Negotiations opened for business around the league on Monday afternoon but rather fast dried up Here are five players the Nuggets could target now using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception who might ve been unrealistic previously Al Horford Horford checks so multiple boxes for Denver that he almost seems too good to be true He s a switchable floor-spacing -foot- champion who could serve as Nikola Jokic s backup center or play alongside Jokic in double-big lineups Aging players are inevitably a vulnerability of module Horford turned in June But even that could work to the Nuggets advantage If retirement is on his mind and he wants to leave his options open next offseason signing a one-year contract matches Denver s financial timeline by getting Horford off the books exactly when Christian Braun s prospective extension will take effect Guerschon Yabusele Yabusele was the breakout star of the Paris Olympics earning himself a contract with Philadelphia and reviving his NBA career The ers turned out to be another springboard for the -foot- Frenchman Still up for grabs on the open field he s expected to demand a vital increase from his previous veteran minimum salary He averaged points and rebounds on shooting from last season Chris Boucher Another big man with positional versatility Boucher was admittedly on The Post s initial list of free agents Denver could target before the MPJ transaction But if the longtime Toronto Raptor has other suitors it doesn t hurt to be armed with a little more money to offer Denver apparently shouldn t be throwing every available penny at him Boucher can shoot the protect the rim and defend out on the perimeter with his length Chris Paul They might not need him now that Bruce Brown is back on a cost-effective contract but the Nuggets now have the means to extend a pretty respectful offer to Paul who would hypothetically be the second consecutive future Hall of Famer to play backup point guard in Denver At he still averaged an immaculate assists to turnovers in San Antonio last season The dilemma is he maybe wants to ride off into the sunset a little closer to his home in Los Angeles Related Articles Renck Michael Porter Jr arrangement makes Nuggets championship contenders again Cam Johnson to Nuggets for Michael Porter Jr Here s how national media graded the pact Nuggets to sign Bruce Brown in free agency reuniting with championship guard source says Nuggets agreement Michael Porter Jr unprotected pick to Nets for Cam Johnson source says Former Nuggets guard under analysis regarding gambling assertions AP source says Deandre Ayton This one s iffy Ayton is by all latest accounts from Portland moody irresponsible and arrogant He s also a talented No overall pick who s seemingly available at a bargain He averaged points and rebounds last season in minutes per match before the Trail Blazers bought out his contract Hypothetically he represents a major reprieve for Jokic Practically should Denver want him in the locker room Want more Nuggets news Sign up for the Nuggets Insider to get all our NBA analysis
