So much was quiet for so long in regards to the Nuggets’ offseason and now it feels like everything is happening at once. Part of that is likely because news around the league has died down so it seems like the only team getting attention right now is the Nuggets after signing Jamal Murray to a four-year, $208 million max contract extension.

There were some fans and media members who weren’t sold on Murray and what we’ve seen from him recently in the playoffs and Olympics. But still, Murray is clearly the Nuggets’ second-best and most important player, and replacing him would have been nearly impossible.

Marc Stein is one of the most plugged-in and respected voices in NBA media and in his most recent substack column, he focused on Denver and their offseason. As to the Murray signing, he stated that if Murray went into training camp without a new deal, it would have been “branded a crisis”.

Stein noted that some around the league will see this deal as an overpay for the 27-year-old, oft-injured Canadian guard, but he also readily admitted that the Nuggets had no choice and couldn’t risk splitting up Murray and Nikola Jokic.

This echoes a popular sentiment as it seems most people accept the reality of the situation; the Nuggets had to re-sign Murray and keep this championship core together, even if the deal feels a bit uncomfortable.

Stein went on to add that the Nuggets are one of the most interesting teams in the league and nobody knows what’s going on between Michael Malone and Calvin Booth, or how Jokic feels about any of this.

He also pointed out that since the Nuggets open their preseason games in Abu Dhabi, they will be one of the first teams we get to see in action and also one of the first to hold media day. Stein predicted that would take place around September 25th or 26th which is right around the corner.

He won’t be alone in his desire to hear what the Nuggets’ players, coaches, and front office members have to say. There is a world of intrigue surrounding this team as they enter the season and we are all dying to see how it all looks on the court.