Report: Nuggets Had ‘Serious Interest’ In Acquiring Paul George, Could Pursue Klay Thompson

According to NBA insiders Sam Amick and Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Denver Nuggets had “serious interest” in acquiring Paul George. 

However, their interest ended. 

“League sources say the Nuggets, for example, had serious interest recently in the prospect of adding George by way of a possible extend-and-trade with the Clippers (if he chose to go that route),” Slater and Amick wrote. “Yet in addition to giving George the max deal he so desires, they also would have had to give up Michael Porter Jr., Zeke Nnaji and a significant amount of draft capital. The Nuggets value their draft picks perhaps as much as any other contender in the league, and so their interest ended there.”

If the Nuggets lose Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who is an unrestricted free agent, they could pursue Golden State Warriors legend Klay Thompson, who is a free agent as well.

Caldwell-Pope and Thompson have been linked to the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic. 

“A league source said Philadelphia has interest in Thompson,” Slater and Amick wrote. “If the Nuggets lose free-agent-to-be Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who has decided to decline his player option and enter the market, a league source said Denver has pegged Thompson as a possible replacement. Caldwell-Pope, as it were, is believed to be a strong possibility for Orlando. There are a handful of other rival teams also in play for Thompson, depending on his price tag.”

One of the top players in the NBA, George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.5 blocks for the Clippers in 2023-24 while shooting 47.1% from the field, 41.3% from beyond the arc and 90.7% from the free-throw line.

One of the greatest shooters in NBA history, Thompson averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.5 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 43.2% from the floor, 38.7% from 3 and 92.7% from the free-throw line.

George leaving the Clippers and Thompson leaving the Warriors could happen this offseason.

LA and Golden State haven’t offered the money George and Thompson, respectively, are looking for.