NBA Free Agency 2011: Nuggets Extend An Offer Sheet To Bucks' Defensive Specialist Luc Mbah a Moute

The Denver Nuggets have extended a four-year, $19 million offer sheet to restricted free agent forward Luc Mbah a Moute, according to Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post. As a restricted free agent, the Milwaukee Bucks have three days to match the offer sheet presented by the Nuggets. If they do not, Mbah a Moute would become a Nugget. Things will develop fairly quickly with this one.

The Bucks have the ability to match the offer to retain their own player, even if it puts them over the salary cap, but a four-year, $19 million offer sheet that is roughly mid-level exception level may prove to rich for the Bucks' blood.

Mbah a Moute is widely known around the NBA as a skilled defensive specialist, excelling as a matchup defender on the perimeter to accentuate his excellent foot speed and defensive anticipation. Although he has yet to be named to an NBA All-Defensive team, there is a very real possibility he could reach that honor within the course of the next four seasons. The biggest deficiency in his game is perimeter offense. He averaged only 6.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in 2010-11 for the Bucks, and has a shooting range that doesn't reasonably extend beyond 15 feet from the basket.

Then again, the Nuggets aren't looking for offense from Mbah a Moute. Head coach George Karl recently said the Nuggets are more focused on a plan to "build our offense off of being a good defensive team," so this move would fit that plan. Even more so if the Nuggets lose their own matchup defender, Arron Afflalo, who is being pursued by multiple teams through restricted free agency as well.

Will the Bucks match the offer? Should they match the offer? Discuss.