Report: Nuggets could offer Jamal Murray supermax extension
The Denver Nuggets are coming off their first ever NBA Title and are 17 days away from their season-opener on opening night against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, who they swept in the Western Conference Finals during their miraculous run.
While two-time MVP Nikola Jokic was the best player on the floor those playoffs, guard Jamal Murray wasn’t that far behind. Now, the Nuggets are “prepared” to offer Murray a supermax extension if he makes an All-NBA team this season, according to general manager Calvin Booth.
“He’s really focused and locked in. I think he’s going to have a big season. We’re anticipating that we’re probably paying him the super-max. He’ll probably make All-NBA,” Booth said, according to Mark Medina of Sportskeeda. “Everybody knows it’s out there, so we might as well talk about it. He obviously knows that carrot is out there for him. But more than the financial reward for it, he’s a competitor. I definitely think, even if he doesn’t say it out loud, that will definitely be on his mind and will be approaching the season that way.
“So if he accomplishes a goal and makes All-NBA, I know Josh [Kroenke] and Mr. K [Stan Kroenke] are big Jamal guys. So, we’ll step up and do what we need to do.”
Murray is eligible for an three-year extension right now for 30 percent of the salary cap, having two years and $69.8 million left on his contract. A supermax contract, however, is worth up to 35 percent of the salary cap, which would not kick in for Murray until the 2025-26 season.
If the cap raised by a full 10 percent each season, Murray’s supermax would be worth up to $334 million over five years if he signed it next offseason.
The 26-year-old averaged 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.2 assists and a steal on 45.4 percent shooting, including 39.8 percent from 3-point range and 83.3 percent from the charity stripe last season. In 20 playoff games, Murray posted 26.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.5 steals on 47.3/39.6/92.6 (58.6 TS%) shooting splits as Jokic’s sidekick.
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