The Denver Nuggets have gotten off to a slow start in the offseason. They’ve replaced Jonas Valanciunas with Marvin Bagley III to see if he’s going to be the right backup to Nikola Jokic. But the Nuggets still need a true backup point guard to Jamal Murray, and a great option could be hitting the market sooner rather than later. If D’Angelo Russell does get bought out by the Memphis Grizzlies, the Nuggets need to swoop in to pick up the former All-Star.

Russell “is not believed to be a long-term piece in Memphis,” says Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports. Iko goes on to say that the Grizzlies could part with Russell either “via a buyout agreement or a trade.” The Nuggets likely wouldn’t be trading for Russell, but they could sign him at a minimum salary if he were to choose Denver as his destination.

Russell was recently traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Grizzlies as part of a six-team trade.

Russell is a better option than who’s left on the market, and Tyus Jones

The Grizzlies are rebuilding, so it makes sense to give the available minutes away to someone they’re looking to develop. The Nuggets should happily slot Russell in as the backup point guard. Aside from Russell Westbrook, Russell will be the best option available should he get bought out.

Russell hasn’t been an All-Star since 2018-19, when he was a member of the Brooklyn Nets, but he still scored 10.2 points and dished 4.0 assists in 19 minutes of floor time for the Mavericks last year. Russell is also a much better option than Tyus Jones, the Nuggets’ only backcourt “splash” this offseason.

Jones has some of the best ball control in basketball, but the rest of his game leaves something to be desired. Russell is far and away a better offensive player than Jones, and he’s no slouch in the ball control department, either. Russell is good in the pick-and-roll and would work well with Nikola Jokic in the staggered minutes when Murray is off the court.

Plus, Russell can create well. He would be a true backup point guard to Murray. The Nuggets could have used a true backup point guard last year, and they need to get one this year. Murray shouldered a large load, and at the moment, it looks like he is in store for another large load if the Nuggets don’t get him some help.

Russell would be perfect. If he hits the market after a buyout, the Nuggets need to swoop in and snag him.

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