youngthegiant wrote:Expected to Return
1.) Nikola Jokic
2.) Jamal murray
3.) Gary Harris:
4.) Trey Lyles
5.) Mason Plumlee
6.) Paul Millsap
7.) Juancho Hernangomez
8.) Tyler Lydon
9.)Malik Beasley
Outside of Harris, Jokic, Murray, and Millsap I do not know that I would put anybody in the expected to return category, this is really the summer that the front office has to build around the young core and putting it off another year will be slowing down the development of the team.
youngthegiant wrote:Questionable
10.) Will Barton: With his looming Free Agency Barton has a good chance of returning due to the dry market in Free Agency, but Denver is going to have to clear some contracts before the trade deadline to avoid the luxury tax.
They have changed the rules with the new CBA, the cap and luxury tax are now based on total money paid out and not on the contracts at the end of the season. Meaning that to resign Barton you have to clear the salary this summer or you will have to clear nearly triple the salary at the deadline.
youngthegiant wrote:11.) Kenneth Faried: I think Faried is ready to move on. Obviously Denver will try to trade him but if the price is heavy I'm sure both sides will reach an agreement on a buyout. If Faried and Denver reach an 8 Million dollar buyout, Denver can stretch that salary over 3 years to get some immediate cap relief.
I agree one way or another Faried is gone, but I seriously doubt the Kroenkes are going to be okay stretching Faried. I expect them to overpay if they decide they just want to cut his salary totally out of the cap.
youngthegiant wrote:12.) Darrell Arthur: I fully expect Arthur to opt into his deal, but Arthur could probably help out a playoff team. Maybe someone will trade for him or Denver could buyout his last year. I don't see those two things happening, Arthur will likely stay on the bench for the entire season.
Arthur is unknown due to his knee issues, he is a good enough player to be a rotation guy on a playoff team if he is healthy but he has not really proven he is healthy this last year. Also I do not know why you keep bringing up buyouts, the ownership has a very limited history of doing buyouts.
youngthegiant wrote:13.)Wilson Chandler: With a player option on his last year. I'm leaning towards the idea that Wilson Chandler has played his final game in Denver. He hasn't been happy here and Wilson is ready for a new environment. Chandler could probably get the MLE and help a contender immediately.
I agree with Chandler likely opting out, his play at the end of the year may convince him not too, but I can see him leaving for an MLE deal.
youngthegiant wrote:14.) Richard Jefferson: Gone
I think if Jefferson wants to stay another year than they will bring him back, he is close friends with Josh Kroenke and is also a mentor to the young guards on teh team.
youngthegiant wrote:15.) Monte Morris: Should be returning but nevr know with 2nd round picks
With Morris being restricted than I think he is brought back, they would be dumb not too.
youngthegiant wrote:16.) Torrey Craig: Probably returns but could not if Denver drafts a Small Forward in the draft.
I would be very surprised if Craig is not brought back, they did everything they could to play him the max amount of games they could. Malone has said clearly that he felt that Craig getting injured and being under the 2 way contract hurt the team and his rotations, and the front office reportedly loves him.
youngthegiant wrote:17.) Devin Harris: Big question mark, he's a good veteran to have around but didn't exactly run away with the back up pg spot.
youngthegiant wrote:18.) New Rookie(s): Denver may trade the pick but after the huge backlash from fans after they traded back and lost both Mitchell and Anunoby. I think they'll stay at #14.
I actually am of the opinion that we don't use the 14th pick at all, I think it is gone in a trade to either dump salary or to bring in a starting SF.
youngthegiant wrote:Trade possibilities
1.) Juancho and Malik Beasley: Both these guys spent a majority of the season the bench. Depending on whether guys like Barton/Chandler return, it may be best for both sides to send them to a situation where they'll both be able to play.
Beasley has to be traded if they are keeping Barton, he just does not have the handles to be a pg and not enough size to really play SF, so he will not have any more minutes available.
Juancho I think is here another year, I just do not see them trading him, as high as they reportedly are on him. Personally I would not be surprised if Juancho and Craig are the SF rotation next year, as I think Chandler is gone whether he opts out or not.
youngthegiant wrote:2.) Mason Plumlee: 14 million is just too much to spend on a backup Center. Denver is better of letting Faried get those 15 minutes at center.
I agree that $14 million is too much for a guy who should only play backup Center, but I think the front office and coaching staff view him as a true 3rd big, which is about what decent 3rd bigs get paid. Unfortunately I think they bring him back but think it would be better to use a backup Center and a backup PF.
youngthegiant wrote:3.) Trey Lyles: His value is at an all time high. It may make sense for Denver to trade him now. They still have Juancho and Tyler Lydon locked in for 2-3 years who could play minutes at the 4 and they might draft another hybrid forward. Lyles could be used to move up in the draft or perhaps to get a consistent back up pg.
I think that the front office has made it very clear that they view Juancho and Lydon as SFs, if they move on from Faried and Arthur, than moving Lyles leaves Millsap as the only PF on the roster based on how the front office views them. I don't see that happening.
Most of us agree.
Malone doesn't appear to like Lyles and didn't even use him against Minnesota in our play-out game. 
). Some like Craig off the bench but he was a two-way contract and I believe that means a one-year contract. So who knows and Malone doesn't play young players much (even 27 year old rookies), so while he appears to be a solid role player on both ends - who knows?
