It came as a bit of a surprise when Atlanta got rid of Ryan Nembhard - the only point guard on the roster behind CJ McCollum and Kingston Flemings.
It made some sense, though, as they needed to cut their roster down to 15 guys one way or another.
A young guard with proven offensive capabilities, still with plenty of room to grow, doesn't just sit available on the open market. They're usually picked up sooner rather than later.
Even though Nembhard is now departing from his third franchise this offseason after being waived by the Hornets, he likely won't be available for long. Maybe all of this movement is a blessing in disguise.
His rumored next destination would give him the best shot to win
At least for this upcoming season. This franchise's future is much less promising than Atlanta or Charlotte's, but they could very well be contenders in 2026-27.
It's the Denver Nuggets who have been linked to Nembhard ever since he was initially traded from Atlanta to Charlotte. Now that he's available in free agency, it seems like it's only a matter of time before they ink him to a deal.
Looking at Denver's roster, they could use all the youth they can get.
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray - their two franchise cornerstones - aren't getting any younger. Not making any of the necessary moves in the previous two summers, neither is the rest of their core.
Maybe if they sign Nembhard to a standard deal, he could find his footing, giving them real life in the second unit as they begin to shift their focus towards the future.
The thing is, though, they may not land him on a standard deal. Even if he's brought in, it could very well just be to a low-commitment camp deal, giving him the chance to eventually earn a two-way.
Nembhard should hope they get aggressive for his services
Again, it's his best possible destination.
While joining a roster with a proven young core would likely be better in hindsight, all that means is there's a higher possibility his spot in the rotation is taken up long term.
Joining a contender who's on their way out of contention could quickly make him relied upon. It's a lot of pressure, sure, but that could be the spark Nembhard needs to carve out a stable role in the NBA.
Hawks fans should wish him nothing but the best in his new journey, whether it's in Denver or not.
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