Nuggets could cut $207 million forward to pair Nikola Jokic with Sixth Man of the Year finalist

The Denver Nuggets have a depth problem.

It was clear during the playoffs that outside of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and clutch plays from Aaron Gordon, the team is devoid of contributions from their rotation.

Now that they've been eliminated, focus turns to free agency where the Nuggets could retool. 

One player that's drawing attention in free agency is Cavs' point guard Ty Jerome. 

The Cleveland scorer had a fantastic season, averaging 12.9 points per game playing 20 minutes a night. He dropped a career-high 33 points and went 8-for-8 from three-point range in a January matchup against the 76ers.

His proficient shooting would fit perfectly in Denver. 

The Sixth Man of the Year Finalist is on the market this season and Cleveland.com presented a few potential destinations for him. 

"San Antonio. Dallas. Golden State. Keep an eye on all three," Chris Fedor wrote.

"Sources say the Nuggets have interest, but will probably be a first apron team," he added.

A first apron represents a hard cap, or a ceiling on how much teams can spend in free agency. 

Denver would need to shed some salary to sign Jerome. Reports are estimating that he would command around $14.1 million annually on the open market as an unrestricted free agent. 

According to HoopsHype, the Nuggets are expected to have a top-five most expensive payroll this summer at a projected $203.5 million. 

Would they cut Michael Porter Jr. to make room for a player like Jerome? 

Porter Jr. signed a five-year, $207 million extension in 2021 and still has three years left on his deal. But after a disappointing playoff exit where he was essentially a no-show, Porter Jr. could be released to allow Denver to retool.

If they cut him, it would open up money to sign Jerome and one or two other role players in free agency. At the same time, it would be a massive shift to their team. Porter Jr. was an instrumental part of the Nuggets winning the 2023 championship. 

But since then, he has declined as a player on both sides of the ball. Jerome is a rising asset who has shown he can be a lethal shooter and provide much of the same spark as Porter Jr. once did.

Denver is still searching for a new general manager after firing Calvin Booth late in the season.

Whoever gets the job will have their work cut out for them.

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