The Denver Nuggets will miss the playoffs this year for the third consecutive season, but it is hard not to like the progress that they have made. If it weren't for some of the injuries they dealt with all season, it is not difficult to imagine this team being in the playoffs in the down Western Conference.
The Nuggets have a lot of young talented players that have flashed the potential of just how good they can be. Next season, the Nuggets hope to improve their roster by bringing in a star player, like perhaps Kevin Love, but they will still need glue guys to complete the team.
Darrell Arthur is one of those glue guys that the Nuggets love and want to bring back, and that feeling is mutual. Arthur, though, has a player option for next year worth $2.9 million that he has not committed to picking up, as he says that he needs to talk to his agent. Arthur just finished one of the best and most productive seasons of his career, as he averaged 7.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 70 games, and he could certainly be due a big raise.
The 28-year-old has made it clear that he wants to remain in Denver because he loves the city and loves the direction that the team is heading in, but at the same time, he also wants some financial security. He has had injury issues over his eight-year career, so wanting a long-term deal is understandable. Arthur, who was relatively healthy this season, has played less than 70 games in five of his eight seasons, and that includes a full year missed due to a ruptured Achilles.
While the injury history is working against Arthur headed into the offseason, his loyalty will be working in his favor. This past offseason, he had a chance to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers but instead decided to return to the Nuggets. This past trade deadline, Arthur also made it clear that he didn't want to be dealt despite Denver getting plenty of calls for him.
Arthur is expected to miss the Nuggets' final game of the season due to a knee injury, but that knee, which has been sore lately, is not expected to require offseason surgery. He will likely opt out of the final year of his contract with the Nuggets this summer, but his goal is still to be in Denver next year and beyond. It will be a matter of whether the Nuggets are willing to give Arthur a raise and the long-term contract he seeks.
