Friday Faceoff: Should the Nuggets award Jamal Murray a $200 million extension?

Vinny Benedetto, Nuggets reporter

Answer: Yes

It’s not going to be easy, and it’s not going to be fun, but offering Jamal Murray a max contract is what must be done.

It’s a gamble on Nikola Jokic’s prime, but it’s the best bet Denver can make. Less than a year ago, Murray’s max extension looked like a lock — for good reason. Then, Murray’s bet on himself backfired. Instead of inking an extension last summer, Murray played last season in hopes of making himself eligible for a super-max extension with an All-NBA season.

Injuries made sure that didn’t happen and made Denver’s decision this summer more interesting.

A hamstring injury stalled him in November. A series of different leg injuries complicated the middle of the season before a calf strain cost Murray another healthy postseason. As long as Denver’s medical staff credits that to bad luck, the four-year extension worth north of $200 million is the right play. Failing to secure Murray puts the rest of Jokic’s prime in more jeopardy.

It will be hard to acquire a better player. Even then, there’s no guarantee a different lead guard would have the same level of chemistry with Nikola Jokic.

The Nuggets might not have gotten past the Lakers without Murray’s game-winners. Murray also wasn’t the problem in the Game 7 loss to the Timberwolves, scoring 35 points on 27 shots, despite also dealing with an elbow injury.

He matched his career-high in points per game (21.2), set a new career-high in assists per game (6.5) and committed the fewest turnovers per game (2.1) since his rookie year.

The Nuggets don’t win the championship without Murray. Keeping Murray happy, healthy and wealthy in Denver is their best bet to win another.

Chris Schmaedeke, digital sports editor

Answer: No

Should the Nuggets extend Jamal Murray? Yes.

But for almost $50 million a season? That’s another story.

Murray was an important part of the Nuggets’ run to the NBA title in 2023. He was clutch and clearly the second-best player on the court next to the great Nikola Jokic. Even in the 2024 playoffs he came up huge but was also missing in action during other games.

General manager Calvin Booth talked about keeping the core together but also building for the future. That’s why it was a smart move to let Kentavious  Caldwell-Pope walk to the Magic for a big contract. Booth is ready to see what Christian Braun can do.

It is time for Booth to be smart once again with the Murray contract. The Nuggets must look at his injury history, conditioning and his poor play in the Olympics. 

Low-balling Murray is not the answer either. There is no need to offend one of your best players and someone Jokic clearly wants on the team. The plan should be to offer Murray a contract that is respectable but not the max.

If the Nuggets front office was comfortable with the max, the contract already would be signed. Booth knows this contract is a slippery slope. Former GM Tim Connelly gave Michael Porter Jr. a max contract even though Porter had a much deeper injury history than Murray. While Porter has had his moments and is an important third wheel on this team, his contract seems large for his play.

Booth seems to not want to make that same mistake. Murray is going to be part of the Nuggets’ present and future, but it needs to be at a bit of a hometown discount.