May 20, 2024 - Salary expert Bobby Marks takes stock of the Denver Nuggets' payroll this offseason, focusing on Aron
Gordon (name)
of contract and renewal prospects.
Existing contracts
: Gordon has two years left on his current contract, including a $23.8 million player option for the 2025-26 season.
Early renewal option
: The Nuggets could extend Gordon's contract early with a four-year deal worth $149.5 million.
Free agent risk
: If the two sides fail to reach an early contract extension, Gordon could become a full free agent by declining his player option in the 2025 offseason.
Regular season stats
: Gordon appeared in 73 regular season games for the Nuggets, averaging 13.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 31.5 minutes per game, while shooting 55.6 percent from the field, 29.0 percent from three-point range and 65.8 percent from the free throw line.
Playoff Stats
: In this year's playoffs, Gordon appeared in 12 games, averaging 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 37 minutes per game, while shooting 58.5 percent from the field, 40.7 percent from 3-point range and 82.1 percent from the free throw line.
Need for early renewal of contracts
: Considering Gordon's steady performance in the regular season and playoffs, the Nuggets may prioritize an early extension with him to ensure stability in the team's core lineup.
Contract value assessment
: A four-year, $149.5 million early extension makes sense for an all-around great performing forward, especially since Gordon's efficient playoff performance justified his bid for better contract terms.
Future plans for the team
: The Nuggets need to be flexible with their payroll space while maintaining the core competitiveness of the team. The Nuggets need to be prepared for possible changes in the free agent market if they are unable to extend Gordon early.
