The Nuggets are having an eventful offseason following their playoff disappointment. With the exit of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the addition of Russell Westbrook, the 2023 Champions didn’t buff up their roster. On top of that, Jamal Murray‘s contract situation remains uncertain, leaving Denver fans puzzled.

Murray is entering the final year of his contract and, till now, there’s no sign of an extension. While he has leverage due to the shortage of like-for-like players currently available in the market, the franchise’s delay indicates their reluctance to commit a massive sum to him. His recent performances and injury history have done Murray no favors, so a similar route to Donovan Mitchell might work for him to evade the major contract roadblock.

The Cavs guard recently signed a 3-year, $150 million deal with the Cleveland side. While Murray might not get $50 million a year, he should look for a shorter contract instead of a 5-year extension. That’s what NBA insider Keith Smith had to say about Murray’s current situation. “I wonder if we might see him do to do what Donovan Mitchell did, take a little bit of a shorter extension, and then get himself back onto the market, kind of not approve it by any means, but still get his money, but end up in a spot where it’s a little less than in terms of years,” Smith said during the latest episode of the NBA Front Office podcast.

His performance in the Olympics was shocking, to say the least. Murray failed to reach double-digit points. His injury is also a concern for the franchise, with him only playing 59 games in the 2023/24 regular season followed by a rough post-season. Murray is eligible for a $208 million extension, but these two factors can hinder his potential to get the bag.

“I mean, poorly in last year’s playoffs, poorly in the Olympics. That’s our last 2 times we’ve seen Jamal Murray play just wasn’t very good. So that that that’s a little worrisome for me,” Smith concluded. But how’s the atmosphere in the Nuggets front office? President Josh Kroenke gave an insight into it.

Josh Kroenke provides assessment for Jamal Murray following woeful Olympics

Canada had high hopes for the Olympics with their NBA star-studded roster. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander left a mark, Jamal Murray saw the tournament pass him by. That was being monitored by the Nuggets brash, and Josh Kroenke revealed what he made of it.

“When you’re going against the best in the world, whether it’s in the NBA playoffs or in the Olympics, you’re gonna get (opponents’) best shot. And if you’re not 100% and you know you want to be out there still, you’re gonna try to fight through it like Jamal is,” Kroenke told the Denver Post after participating in the Gardner Hendrick Pro-Am at Castle Pines Golf Club. He further discussed Murray’s injury issue, but downplayed the factor in his reasoning.

Emphasizing the demands of the NBA fixtures, Kroenke was sympathetic to Murray for enduring the fast-paced Nuggets system. “So I think that showed up toward the end of the regular season. It definitely trickled into the playoffs. And Jamal was also pretty banged up…He was playing through some dings that probably would keep most people out of games,” Kroenke explained. But despite this public backing, he did not disclose a word about the franchise’s plans to offer a deal to the 26-year-old guard. Guess we just have to wait and see where this saga rolls to.