Latest news with #TimHardawayJr
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA analyst makes case for former Nugget Russell Westbrook as free agent target
The Denver Nuggets have made some big moves this offseason, but they might be making a key mistake. Over the past few weeks, the Nuggets have transformed their roster as they look to make some noise in a tougher Western Conference next season. After taking the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games last season, the Nuggets clearly believe they aren't far away from making another title run of their own. With Nikola Jokic running the show, the Nuggets will always be capable of making some postseason noise when healthy. Of course, the Nuggets' run to the second round last season wasn't always fueled by their stars. Russell Westbrook was a key part of Denver's success in 2025, even becoming a playoff hero for the franchise. After declining his player option to enter free agency, Westbrook is still looking for his next home. While Denver has made some solid moves, such as adding Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas, Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes explained why Westbrook still has some value. Hughes noted that the former MVP has transitioned into one of the league's premier sixth men and still has the ability to take over games despite going into his 18th season. Considering all of the value Westbrook brought to Denver last season, the Nuggets could be making a mistake in letting him walk. By energizing the team on sluggish nights and consistently getting the crowd into games, Westbrook always added a spark that doesn't show up on the stat sheet. Still, as Westbrook looks for a new home, there is no doubt that he can still be a valuable piece of a winning team.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Is Russell Westbrook on in Denver? Patrick Beverley weighs in
Russell Westbrook is back on the free-agent market after declining his player option with the Denver Nuggets. Though a return to Denver seemed possible at first, it now looks like the door has closed. The former MVP played in 75 games for the Nuggets last season, starting 36 of them. He averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists while serving as a high-energy contributor off the bench. But Denver's recent moves suggest the team is headed in a different direction. Advertisement MORE: Bronny James dazzles with big dunk in blowout win over Heat The Nuggets have added Tim Hardaway Jr. and brought back Bruce Brown, both of whom are expected to strengthen the team's bench unit. According to multiple reports, including ESPN's Shams Charania, those additions leave little room for a Westbrook reunion. Beverley Says Nuggets Prioritized Shooting Over Westbrook During a recent episode of the 'Pat Bev Podcast' from Barstool Sports, Patrick Beverley shared his thoughts on Denver's offseason decisions. Co-host Adam 'Rone' Ferrone suggested the Nuggets have moved on from Westbrook by bringing in more reliable perimeter threats. 'That move is gonna have them getting off of Russ,' Ferrone said. 'The Kings are making a big push for Russ, but that leaves a divot in Denver's backup point guard rotation.' Beverley agreed with the take, adding: 'When you add some shooting around [Nikola Jokic] like they have with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown... I think Tim Hardaway Jr. is gonna light that place up.' The comment came from someone with a long and complex history with Westbrook. Beverley and Westbrook famously clashed during the 2013 playoffs, but they later became teammates on the Lakers and publicly ended their feud. Despite that rocky past, Beverley has often praised Westbrook's leadership and toughness. Advertisement Still, Beverley sees the logic in Denver's choice to focus on shooting. The Nuggets rely heavily on Jokic's playmaking, and spacing has always been key to unlocking his full offensive potential. With the Nuggets shifting focus, Westbrook's next destination remains unclear. The Sacramento Kings are rumored to have interest, but there's been no official word on where the veteran point guard will land. For now, Westbrook waits, while the Nuggets move forward with a backcourt built around shooting and depth. More NBA News:
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Patrick Beverley Reacts to Nuggets' Russell Westbrook Decision
Patrick Beverley Reacts to Nuggets' Russell Westbrook Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Russell Westbrook is still an NBA free agent. Declining his player option with the Denver Nuggets for next season, Westbrook hit the open market where he has yet to find a new team. Advertisement When the news surfaced that Westbrook would be opting out, a return to Denver seemingly remained possible. The nine-time All-Star appeared in 75 games (36 starts) for the Nuggets last season, averaging 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists. However, recent moves by the Nuggets have made it clear Westbrook will almost certainly not be returning. Denver has reinforced its bench backcourt with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown (via ESPN's Shams Charania). Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4)© Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images During the latest episode of his Pat Bev Podcast for Barstool, former NBA guard Patrick Beverley was asked about the moves Denver has made this offseason. More specifically, Beverley was asked by Adam "Rone" Ferrone about the Nuggets moving away from Westbrook. Advertisement "That move is gonna have them getting off of Russ," Rone said of Denver bringing in Bruce Brown. "The Kings are making a really big push for Russ. But that leaves a divot in their backup point guard rotation." Reacting to Denver moving away from Westbrook in favor of other reserve guards, Beverley said, "When you add some shooting around [Nikola Jokic] like they have with Tim Hardaway Jr., they added Bruce Brown back... I think Tim Hardaway Jr. is gonna light that [expletive] up." Beverley and Westbrook have a complicated history. Prior to teaming up on the Los Angeles Lakers, the two had an ongoing feud that dated back to 2013 when Beverley injured Westbrook in the NBA Playoffs. They publicly squashed their beef upon joining forces on the Lakers, and have since been friendly with each other. Advertisement While Beverley has often spoken highly of Westbrook, the former All-Defensive guard thinks Denver was smart to bring in more shooting around Jokic. Related: NBA Fans Bracing for Russell Westbrook's Retirement After New Report Related: Steph Curry's Message to LeBron James Turns Heads After Warriors-Lakers Trade Report This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tim Hardaway Jr. becomes latest key Nuggets free agency addition
The post Tim Hardaway Jr. becomes latest key Nuggets free agency addition appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Denver Nuggets have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr., according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Advertisement Hardaway, 33, is the latest key veteran to join the Nuggets this offseason as new front office executives Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace continue to make aggressive moves to surround three-time MVP Nikola Jokic with championship-level talent. After trading Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for two-way wing Cam Johnson, the Nuggets have since added Bruce Brown, Jonas Valanciunas, and now Hardaway Jr. to their roster. All four of these new offseason additions bring valuable experience with them to Denver and expand on what many referred to as a broken rotation during the 2024-25 season. Outside of Jokic and Jamal Murray, Denver struggled to find consistent offensive production. This was especially true when evaluating the Nuggets' second unit and bench, which ranked bottom five in the league this past year. Advertisement Although Porter had been a key part of the Nuggets' championship run in 2023, trading him to the Nets opened up flexibility for the team to add much-needed depth to their roster. Hardaway now joins the mix in Denver as a reliable 3-point shooter who recently found a lot of success with the Detroit Pistons. In one season with the Pistons, Hardaway averaged 11.0 points and 2.4 rebounds per game while shooting 36.8 percent from 3-point range. Over the last three seasons, the veteran sharpshooter has scored 50 percent of his 3,002 total points from the perimeter. Detroit replaced his role with Caris LeVert in free agency on Monday. The Nuggets needed another key 3-point shooting threat after giving Porter up on Monday, which is why the addition of Hardaway is such a big deal for this franchise. While he may not be the same defender Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was, he will fill that catch-and-shoot role Denver was missing during the 2024-25 season. Advertisement With 14 players under contract and right at the tax line for the 2025-26 season, the Nuggets are expected to remain aggressive in the marketplace. There is the possibility that the Nuggets could seek to trade Zeke Nnaji and move his contract in order to open up flexibility and additional spending power. This would allow them to address a key need for a backup point guard behind Murray. Even with limited names remaining in free agency, players like Russell Westbrook, Malcolm Brogdon, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Tre Mann still loom large as possible additions in Denver. The Nuggets finished the 2024-25 season with a 50-32 record and made it to the Western Conference Semifinals for the third straight year. Related: Why the Nuggets are massive 2025 NBA free agency winners Related: Jonas Valanciunas trade grades for Nuggets, Kings
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nuggets Dealt Devastating Trade News on Thursday
Nuggets Dealt Devastating Trade News on Thursday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. When it comes to the first few days of NBA free agency, the Denver Nuggets have been quite active as they try to revamp their roster around Nikola Jokic. Advertisement Following a season that saw them fall in the West semifinals, the Nuggets have acquired four new players. They signed both Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown, who played a key role in their 2023 title run, to one-year deals. They also traded away Michael Porter Jr., landing Nets sharpshooter Cam Johnson in exchange. However, arguably one of the more under-the-radar moves of the offseason was their acquisition of Jonas Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings. He provides another big body to back up Jokic and has also shown the ability to stretch the floor. Unfortunately for Jokic and the Nuggets, Valanciunas might never suit up for them. According to a report by BasketNews' Dontas Urbonas, Valanciunas has been offered a three-year deal worth around $14 million from Greek club Panathinaikos Athens, and is "close to accepting" the offer. Advertisement "Jonas Valanciunas is preparing to close the NBA chapter of his career," read the report. "According to BasketNews sources, the 33-year-old Lithuanian is close to accepting an offer from Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos Athens." New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Lew-Imagn Images If Valanciunas were to leave for the Greek powerhouse, it would effectively end his 13-year NBA career. As confirmed by insider Marc Stein, if Valanciunas does go through with this, it'll likely lead to him "seeking a buyout" from his contract. While the move is yet to happen, those in Denver are likely panicking. Related: Heat Sign 7-Foot-1 Center as Trade Rumors With Lakers Swirl Related: Bronny James Breaks Silence on the Change in His Physical Appearance This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
