Jamal Murray's contract negotiations with the Denver Nuggets have been delayed after he committed to play for Canada in the 2024 Olympics.
According to Bennett Durand, The Denver PostMurray and the Nuggets have put contract negotiations “on hold for now,” but the two sides will “probably” reach an agreement after the Olympics are over.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported on June 27 that Murray and the Nuggets are in negotiations for a four-year contract extension worth up to $209 million and that the two sides are expected to reach an agreement.
Choosing to play in the Olympics before signing a new contract could carry some risk for Murray, who has missed at least 17 games in each of the past four seasons, including the entire 2021-22 season, because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Murray was plagued by calf and elbow injuries during the Nuggets' playoff run last season. He played in all 12 postseason games but struggled to find a consistent rhythm, shooting just 40.2 percent from the field.
There are apparently no concerns about Murray signing a contract, but Nuggets fans have reason to be nervous given how the offseason has played out so far, with the Nuggets receiving criticism for letting Kentavious Caldwell-Pope leave as a free agent when he signed with the Orlando Magic.
General manager Calvin Booth seemed to indicate up front that the Nuggets intended to start Christian Braun rather than sign Caldwell-Pope, and it still seems like an odd decision to part ways with a key two-way wing player who shot 40.6 percent from the 3-point line last season when Murray and Nikola Jokic are in the primes of their careers.
With one year left on his current contract and a salary of $36 million, there's no fear that Murray will go anywhere, and he'll be competing in the Olympics for the first time in his career.
If Murray can finish Paris healthy, a contract extension could be in place before the Nuggets open training camp. The 27-year-old Murray is averaging 20.7 points and shooting 41.0% from the 3-point line in 172 games since the 2020-21 season.
