The Nuggets are withdrawing their qualifying offer to free agent forward Trey Lyles, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). The move will allow Lyles to become an unrestricted free agent.
The timing of the decision makes sense, as word broke this morning that the Nuggets would acquire Jerami Grant in a trade with the Thunder. Grant figures to play most of the power forward minutes that Lyles would have seen if he had returned to Denver. Instead, the 6’10” Canadian will likely sign with another team that might be positioned to give him a larger role.
The 12th overall pick in the 2015 draft, Lyles had his best year as a Nugget in 2017/18, when he averaged 9.9 PPG and 4.8 RPG with a .491/.381/.706 shooting line in 73 games (19.1 MPG). However, he took a step backward this past season, as those numbers slipped to 8.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG and .418/.255/.698 shooting.
Despite his struggles in 2018/19, the Nuggets issued Lyles a qualifying offer worth about $4.49MM this summer, which made him a restricted free agent and gave Denver the right of first refusal if he had signed an offer sheet with a rival suitor. Having decided not to accept that one-year qualifying offer, the former Kentucky Wildcat will now get the opportunity to try to top it on the open market.
Man if they had kept Donovan Mitchell they’d be tough to beat. Him and Murray as a starting backcourt would have given teams some problems. Instead Utah GM makes one heck of a trade.
If they had kept Donovan Mitchell, he may have never blossomed. The opportunity for him to play as much and become the best player on the team wouldn’t have been there in Denver. He’d likely have been on the bench or in the G League with Malik Beasley.
They never had Mitchell. He was drafted for Utah. Denver wouldn’t have drafted another SG in that spot.
They traded Donavan Mitchell for Lydon and lyles.
No they didn’t. They traded the draft spot for the spot that became Lydon, plus Lyles. Had they not made the trade they would absolutely not have drafted Mitchell (they already had Gary Harris and had no need for Mitchell, or so they thought).
Exactly. They probably would have drafted OG Anunoby, if I recall correctly. At least, that’s who I had them taking
Brooklyn still needs a stretch 4 bring him on!