The NBA offseason is right around the corner and the Denver Nuggets have some key decisions to make during it.
Denver is coming off their second consecutive season that saw them be eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, though they were able to take the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games.
Now the Nuggets enter the offseason needing to hire a new general manager and then find ways to upgrade their roster around Nikola Jokic, who is coming off arguably the best season of his incredible career.
Nikola Jokic Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokic.
© Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
The Nuggets also have a key decision to make regarding one of their key players off the bench in Russell Westbrook who is set to be an unrestricted free agent after declining his player option.
Westbrook had a bounce back season as he averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 44.9% from the field and 32.3% from three-point range.
With Westbrook being a free agent, there should be multiple teams interested in signing the veteran guard, especially after he was able to bounce back this season.
According to Bovada, the Miami Heat have emerged as the favorite (+260) to land the former MVP winner this offseason.
Miami is followed by the Dallas Mavericks (+325), Sacramento Kings (+500), Golden State Warriors (+750) and Orlando Magic (+750) as the favorites to sign Westbrook this offseason.
For Miami, they have been in desperate need of a point guard and Westbrook could find himself as a starter if the Heat decide to sign him in the offseason.
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook sets the play during a game.
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook sets the play during a game.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Westbrook could also find himself as a starter in Sacramento while the other teams, including the Nuggets, would likely keep him as a backup point guard.
While these teams could be interested in Westbrook this summer, it makes sense for the 36-year-old to re-sign in Denver, especially after his impressive first season with the franchise.