Denver eyes Mason for final roster spot

Denver is reportedly pursuing Desmond Mason (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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Though he remains a strong possibility to fill the team’s final roster vacancy, Wally Szczerbiak isn’t the only option the Nuggets are reportedly considering.

Journeyman Ronald “Flip” Murray, most recently of the Hawks, and high riser Desmond Mason, most recently of the Thunder, are also on Denver’s radar.

Fanhouse’s Chris Tomasson reports that Mason and the Nuggets have a “mutual interest,” according to Mason’s agent, who said the 6-5 swingman met with coach George Karl and vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien earlier this week.

“Absolutely (Mason is) interested,” Masons’ agent, Roger Montgomery, told Fanhouse.

Szczerbiak was also quoted in the report, saying, “We’re still in discussions, but that’s not something I want to go into with the media.”

As mentioned here, if the Nuggets follow through with Szczerbiak, they would be adding a veteran to their bench would can consistently knock down the 3 at a high percentage-- essentially replenishing the value lost by the departed Linas Kleiza.

However, obtaining Mason has the potential to net a greater impact. The key word, of course, is potential. Mason has missed an average of 33 games the previous two seasons.

But if he can stay healthy, Mason’s style of play would seem to mesh well with the up-tempo Nuggets, particularly the team’s second unit. A multiple dunk contest participant, Mason relies heavily on his athletic ability and plays with a lot of energy. With Dahntay Jones fleeing Denver to sign with Indiana a few months ago, Mason could become the guy who lifts the team up on nights when the effort isn‘t initially there.

What could prevent the acquisition, though, is owner Stan Kroenke’s reluctance to pay the league’s luxury tax, which the team was able to avoid last season. Since trading away Marcus Camby to the Clippers this time last year, the front office has focused on signing players like guard Anthony Carter and center Johan Petro to league-minimum contracts in order to remain under the tax.

But with so many other title contending teams making improvements to their rosters this offseason, it seems almost necessary that Denver would need add an impact player like Mason if it wants to compete again for home-court advantage in the Western Conference playoffs.

But in the end, Mason’s asking price might be a little too steep, even if it isn’t anywhere near what it used to be. That could open the door for Murray, who played well as a rotational player for the Hawks last year. But after losing Kleiza, a 6-3 guard isn’t exactly what the Nuggets’ need.

If a wager had to be placed, the safest bet might be that Denver stays true to its conservative spending and signs another league-minimum guy to fill the final spot, which excludes any player discussed previously.

That is of course speculation, so stay tuned.