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The Denver Nuggets were in third place in the Western Conference standings before the 2019-20 season was suspended due to COVID-19. This was impressive considering the team made only 707 triples, putting them in 25th place in the NBA.
In today's league, the Nuggets need to become a more lethal team from beyond the arc if they ultimately want to win a championship. Denver superstar big man Nikola Jokic commands double teams when he’s in the post operating. The Nuggets' front office needs to surround “The Joker” with more shooters to roam around the perimeter so he has ample space to work with and can pass it out to snipers when he collapses the paint.
That would allow Denver to fully utilize Jokic’s incredible passing skills from the center position.
It may be difficult to pull off, but the Nuggets should try and acquire shooting guard Buddy Hield from the Sacramento Kings this summer. The sharpshooter reportedly doesn't have the best relationship with Kings head coach Luke Walton, so maybe Denver and Sacramento can work something out behind the scenes.
Hield is one of the best shooters in the NBA. He shot 39.5 percent from beyond the arc this season and made 244 3s in 64 games while averaging 19.8 points. That's the type of production the Nuggets need from distance, especially since Jokic draws so much attention when he has the ball down low.
Denver needs an elite shooter roaming around the arc and getting open through back screens such as Hield when Jokic is doing his work.
The Nuggets will likely have to part ways with Gary Harris to get Hield, who signed a four-year, $94 million contract extension with the Kings before the 2019-20 season started. The former Oklahoma Sooner is set to make $24.4 million whenever the 2020-21 season begins.
Along with being a stellar shooter, Hield can also score off the dribble and doesn't always need a screen from his center to score. The 26-year-old, if he's able to land in Denver, would be joining a tremendous core of Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Jerami Grant.
Since entering the NBA back in 2016, Hield has compiled averages of 15.9 points and 4.2 rebounds. He's made 846 shots from beyond the arc.
