Nuggets' Michael Malone: Team On Lookout For Backcourt Help

Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone left nothing to the imagination when asked what his team is looking for heading into next season.

Michael Malone, Jamal Murray, NBA, Nuggets

“Somebody to play behind Jamal Murray,” Malone said during an NBA Summer League game on NBA TV, via RealGM.

Malone speaks the truth, as the Nuggets lost Bruce Brown last summer and starting shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in this one. They also traded backup point guard Reggie Jackson to the Charlotte Hornets.

Granted, not all of those guys are point guards, but they are backcourt players who contributed to a championship team in 2023. Now, the Nuggets have Murray back there and … who else?

If you look at Denver’s roster today, the starting shooting guard is probably Christian Braun. Not a terrible thing, but that really thins out the bench. This may be why we keep hearing the Nuggets are interested in supposedly available Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook.

It is believed that Westbrook could be had for relatively cheap and word is, the Nuggets have actually explored the idea. They are also believed to be checking the list of available free agents — with the likes of Tyus Jones, Markelle Fultz, Dennis Smith Jr. and perhaps even John Wall among the more notable names available.

But for now, the Nuggets appear to just be doing their due diligence and scouring the market.

“Calvin Booth is all over it,” Malone said of the team’s head of basketball operations.