Nuggets notebook: Aaron Gordon, Calvin Booth's mutual interest in contract extension; Jamal Murray's new deal

It’s almost Aaron Gordon’s turn at the negotiating table.

The Nuggets’ starting power forward is eligible to sign a contract extension as early as Friday. He expressed interest in extending his stay in Denver at the team’s media day Thursday at Ball Arena.

“I really love this organization. I love the players on this team. I love the coaching staff, so I hope we get it done,” Gordon said. “It seems like it’s moving forward in the right direction, so I’m excited to hopefully be extended and stay with this organization.”

General manager Calvin Booth also expressed optimism the two sides could reach a deal.

“Hopefully, we have some productive talks with his representation, and we’re able to find a deal that we’re both satisfied with,” Booth said. “He’s been an integral part of what we’ve done. I’d like to keep him here for a long time.”

Gordon, 29, is entering his fourth full season with the Nuggets after starting his career with the Magic.

Murray, Booth talk extension

A potential Gordon extension would be the second such deal Booth struck this offseason.

Jamal Murray was eligible to sign an extension long before Gordon could, but it took until early September to strike a deal. Speaking publicly for the first time since agreeing to a four-year extension worth nearly $209 million, Murray said he remained confident a deal would get done.

“I’m happy to be here,” Murray said.

Booth also downplayed any delay in reaching an agreement with the star point guard.

“Some things have been made about the amount of time (it took to get done), but I think it’s the natural course of negotiations,” Booth said. “We both found a deal that we’re satisfied with. Jamal’s been fantastic for us over the years, and I think he’ll continue to do so.”

Altitude breakthrough appeases Malone, Booth

As coach and general manager, Michael Malone and Calvin Booth were hardly impacted by the long impasse between Altitude, the team’s regional sports network, and Comcast, the largest local cable company.

That doesn’t mean they didn’t hear the criticisms of local fans whose legal options to watch the games that weren’t nationally broadcast were limited.

“That's one thing you hear as you're walking or driving around town; there are people who haven't been able to watch the Nuggets or the Avalanche,” Malone said. “Both teams are in the middle of historic runs with great players. We want our fans to see as many games as possible.”

That became more of a reality Thursday morning. Altitude announced a streaming app, Altitude+, that will offer the Nuggets and Avalanche games that aren’t carried on national networks for $19.95 per month. Additionally, 9News and Altitude reached an agreement to carry 20 of each teams’ games on the local NBC affiliate.

“I’m excited for people that live in the Denver metro area,” Booth said. “I know it’s been a long time where some people have been locked out of seeing local games, so I’m excited for the opportunity for the whole market to get to watch our games.”

Who won the offseason?

A stronger and more conditioned Michael Porter Jr. did most of his work in Los Angeles, while Julian Strawther made sure his presence in Denver was known.

“Julian Strawther was in the gym every day this summer – every day,” Malone said. “The guy was a workhorse.”

The second-year wing from Gonzaga has a real shot to be an every-night player after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s offseason departure. Malone mentioned him as a possible starter after Strawther played in 50 games as a rookie. A number of those were short stints at the end of lopsided games, while an injury sidelined him for a month of the season.

“There’s obviously a lot of opportunity there for the taking,” Strawther said. “Once I had seen that opportunity was there, I had to put my best foot forward.”

Porter did the same in Los Angeles. He regularly played in pick up games against other NBA players and added muscle in the weight room. He was listed at 218 pounds last season.

“I’m about 236, 237,” Porter said. “I’ll probably play at 232.”