The Denver Nuggets are a promising young team that made a lot of progress this past season. The Nuggets missed the playoffs, but they saw a lot of good things from some of their young players, and they feel as though they are close to something special.
This summer the Nuggets will be on the hunt for a star player via trade or in free agency, but they have a few small moves that they need to make too. The point guard position may be a little overcrowded next season as they have Emmanuel Mudiay as the starter and potentially D.J. Augustin and Jameer Nelson as the backups.
Augustin will be a free agent this offseason, but the Nuggets want to bring him back for next season which would leave Nelson in a bad spot. Augustin was acquired at the trade deadline in the deal that sent Randy Foye to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he played most of the backup point guard minutes when he arrived.
Nelson appeared in just 39 games last season as he dealt with a wrist injury for the majority of the year. Even when Nelson was healthy Augustin had clearly passed him on the depth chart, and Nelson does not want to be a third-string point guard next season. Prior to this season Nelson signed a three-year deal with the Nuggets, and he prefers to stay, but if he doesn't see a path to consistent playing time he won't hesitate to request a trade.
"Like I said we'll figure it out and see what's going on," Nelson said. "I would love to come back here. That's the reason why I signed a three-year deal. But it's just one of those things that, it's a business. It's a business, and we have to figure it out."
Augustin impressed in his short time with the Nuggets, and he says he loves it there so it seems the likelihood is that he returns to Denver. If that is the case Nelson could either decide to compete with him for backup minutes or request a trade to a place where he will be assured backup minutes. It seems as though Nelson would lean toward the latter option though, and there should be teams that have interest in a veteran like him.
Nelson was a shell of himself this year, some of which can be attributed to the wrist injury. The 34-year-old point guard likely won't require offseason surgery, but this offseason will still be a stressful for him as his future is up in the air. Augustin returning to the Nuggets is not a lock, but it does seem likely. If that happens Nelson and his agent will have to find a team willing to give him minutes and take on the final two years of his contract.
