Nuggets president: Murray, MPJ to be physically cleared in near future

Some key reinforcements may be on the way for the Denver Nuggets.

President of basketball operations Tim Connelly said Friday on Altitude Sports Radio that the Nuggets will physically clear Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. "in the not too distant future," per Mike Singer of The Denver Post.

However, Connelly added that each player's return to the lineup will depend on how they're feeling. No timeline was given, either.

Murray hasn't played since tearing his ACL last April against the Golden State Warriors. The Canadian built on his breakthrough performance in the bubble, averaging a career-high 21.2 points on 47.7% shooting across 48 appearances during the 2020-21 campaign.

Denver inked Porter to a five-year, $172.6-million extension prior to the season. He struggled before sustaining a back injury in November, registering just 9.9 points per game on 35.9% shooting, including a 20.8% mark from deep.

The Nuggets have managed to stay afloat despite the duo's absence. Denver is 30-24 and sixth in the Western Conference thanks in large part to the strong play of Nikola Jokic.