Despite finishing with a 40-42 record and missing the playoffs last season, Denver Nuggets forward Darrell Arthur boasted that the team would be a contender in the Western Conference, alongside the Golden State Warriors. Arthur made the guarantee during the launching of the Nuggets’ new uniforms. "We can be a contender for sure, right up there with Golden State,” Arthur said. The Nuggets have missed the playoffs for the past four seasons but are optimistic that they can end the drought with the addition of four-time All-Star Paul Millsap, who signed a three-year, $90 million contract in the offseason.
Millsap will complement Arthur and youngsters Gary Harris, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Emmanuel Mudiay as they try to end their playoff drought. Last season, they missed the postseason by just one game for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. The Warriors, for their part, reached the NBA Finals for the past three seasons, winning two titles with Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green leading the way.
Nuggets could become instant contenders with Kyrie Irving
The Nuggets were recently mentioned as one of the teams interested in trading for Cleveland Cavaliers superstar Kyrie Irving. The Nuggets were considered a perfect trade partner as they can come up with a package of veterans and young players for Irving.
The Nuggets have Murray, Gary Harris, Wilson Chandler and Will Barton but Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer said they wouldn't give up Murray and Harris via trade. If Murray and Harris are both untouchable, Pluto said the Nuggets might use Mudiay as trade bait for Irving. During a meeting with Cavs team owner Dan Gilbert, Irving recently sought a trade to either the Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat or the New York Knicks.
Irving interested in joining Nuggets
Mike Miller, a former teammate of Irving with the Cavs, told 950 AM Altitude Radio that the All-Star point guard is interested in joining the Nuggets despite not including the team on his preferred list of destinations. According to Miller, Irving may consider Denver as his next stop because it is an unbelievable city.
Miller played with the Nuggets for two years, playing 47 games in his first season and 20 outings the following year. The Nuggets waived him before his $3.5 million salaries for the 2017-18 season became fully guaranteed. Miller believes that the Nuggets can fulfill Irving’s wish to become the team’s No. 1 option.
