Inside The Nuggets

Denver Nuggets NBA Champion Makes Massive Free Agency Decision

The Nuggets have received big news from one of their top players

Joey Linn

May 5, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (center) in the huddle with teammates prior to the game against the Phoenix Suns in game three of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
May 5, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (center) in the huddle with teammates prior to the game against the Phoenix Suns in game three of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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In a move that has been expected for a while, Denver Nuggets starter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has declined his player option (per Shams Charania of The Athletic). This allows Caldwell-Pope to enter free agency where he is expected to draw strong interest from several different teams.

Like other top free agents this summer, Caldwell-Pope will only have a few options to choose from when it comes to teams with both cap space and serious championship aspirations. Assuming he wants to continue competing for championships, Caldwell-Pope will not have a large list of teams to join in free agency.

Speaking recently with reporters, Nuggets GM Calvin Booth semeed to suggest that Caldwell-Pope departing in free agency is a real possibility.

"I think we have to look at everything, the nature of free agency is that he's unrestricted," Booth said. "We can try to bring him back and if he doesn't want to come back or chooses to go somewhere else, that's his prerogative, so we'll have to work with that. I think we're prepared to plug and play... When you look at good teams in the past, they had to find a way to replace fourth, fifth starters, sixth men off the bench, and still keep rolling."

Making it clear that the Nuggets are prepared for Caldwell-Pope to be elsewhere, Booth seemed to suggest he could be on his way out.

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Joey Linn

JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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