Report: Denver Nuggets Considers 2-Time NBA All-Star Free Agent as Ideal Backup for Nikola Jokic…

 Ideal Backup for Nikola Jokic Could Be a 2-Time NBA All-Star Free Agent

To reclaim the NBA championship next season, the Denver Nuggets need to bolster their roster depth, especially at the center position. They are on the lookout for a suitable backup for Nikola Jokic.

Greg Swartz from Bleacher Report suggested that the Nuggets should consider signing Andre Drummond, a two-time NBA All-Star who will be a free agent this summer.

Swartz wrote, “Drummond and Jokic are very different players, but Drummond might be the best option Denver can afford with only veteran-minimum contracts available. After making the postseason just four times in his 12 NBA seasons and never advancing past the first round, Drummond should be eager to win and willing to fill any role the Nuggets need.”

Swartz highlighted Drummond’s elite rebounding skills, stating, “If he had enough minutes to qualify, his rebound rate of 29.3 percent would have led the NBA, surpassing Jusuf Nurkić by 6.5 percentage points. The gap between Drummond and Nurkić is comparable to the difference between Nurkić and Bobby Portis, who ranked 25th.”

Adding a player like Drummond would address the Nuggets’ lack of center depth, a weakness exposed by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals.

How Andre Drummond Fits with the Denver Nuggets

This season, the Nuggets have relied on DeAndre Jordan as the primary backup for Nikola Jokic. However, Jordan will soon turn 36, indicating he is nearing the end of his NBA career.

In contrast, Andre Drummond, at 30 years old, is still relatively in his prime. He has demonstrated his ability to be an effective backup behind another European big man, Nikola Vucevic, over the past two seasons.

This season, Drummond averages 8.4 points and 9.0 rebounds in 17.1 minutes per game, with a shooting percentage of 55.6 percent from the field.

While the Nuggets could benefit from signing Drummond to a veteran’s minimum contract, they might face competition from teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, who could offer him a more lucrative deal.