The Denver Nuggets are slowly becoming a team to be reckoned with especially with the fast growth of Nikola Jokic. Despite the departure of Danilo Gallinari to the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver is still looking like a decent NBA team. With the western conference being tough as ever there is a lot of pressure on Nikola Jokic on the gang the have the season of their life. WIth Gallinari out Jamal Murray, Will Barton, and Nikola Jokic will have to shoulder most of the offensive load for next season. Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors has reported that the Denver Nuggets have exercised third-year options on Juan Hernangomez, Malik Beasley, and Jamal Murray.
Juan Hernangomez stay with Denver
Juan Hernangomez will earn 2.16 million dollars for next season. Juan (younger brother of Willy Hernangomez who plays for the New York Knicks) entered the NBA in the offseason of 2016 where he was drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the 15th overall pick. Juan was praised with his enormous length, speed, and athleticism. It has been said that he and Willy are the next Marc and Pau Gasol. He played 62 games last season averaging 4.9 points, 0.2 blocks, 0.5 steals, 0.5 assists, and three rebounds while shooting 45.3 percent from the field, 41.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 75 percent from the charity stripe.
Malik Beasley continues career with the Nuggets
Beasley's team option was also exercised by the Nuggets, he will earn 1.77 million dollars for next season.
A few days before the 2016 NBA draft, Malik Beasley suffered a stress fracture in his right leg that needed surgery. This made him miss all the pre-draft workouts, yet the Denver Nuggets still selected him with the 19th overall pick on draft night. Beasley only played a total of 22 games in the regular season and spent his time mostly with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League.
He had NBA averages of 3.8 points, 0.3 steals, 0.5 assists, and 0.8 rebounds while shooting 45.2 percent from the field, 32.1 percent from the three-point line, and 80 percent from the free throw line.
Jamal Murray looks to shine in his second NBA season
Along with Beasly and Hernangomez, the Denver Nuggets also exercised their option on Jamal Murray.
Murray was terrific last season in his rookie year averaging 9.9 points, 0.3 blocks, 0.7 steals, 2.1 assists, and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 40.5 percent from the field, 33.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 88.3 percent from the charity stripe in 82 games in the NBA.
