Today we look at the Denver Nuggets, a former champion that has lost public sentiment, but one that is still a strong title contender in 2025
Earlier this off-season, the Boston Celtics made a decision to retain their entire championship roster. It is important to note that in the age of salary caps and luxury tax aprons this is very difficult to do. Look no further than the Denver Nuggets as an example of this. Last off-season the Nuggets lost Bruce Brown, a pivotal role player during their championship run, to a lucrative free agent deal from the Indiana Pacers (Brown has since been traded to the Raptors). And now this off-season, the Nuggets have lost another pivotal role player in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope who has signed with the Orlando Magic this summer.
And yet, despite losing these key pieces, it is still somewhat difficult to write off the Nuggets. The Nuggets have arguably the best player in the world in Nikola Jokic, one of the better secondary options in Jamal Murray, and are coming off a 57 win season. They lost in seven games to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round but that was after blowing a 20 point lead in the deciding seventh game. Jokic is still in his prime, and as long as he is producing at an elite level they should always be in the mix.
Like many other teams this summer, the Nuggets have been very mindful of the second apron of the luxury tax that could result in forfeited draft picks and have stayed far away from crossing that threshold. That is why they let Caldwell-Pope walk in free agency, in addition to moving on from backup point guard Reggie Jackson. In their place, the Nuggets have brought in Dario Saric and Russell Westbrook, two win-now veterans that clearly show that the Nuggets remain in their championship window.
Over the last few years, the Nuggets have prioritized developing young talent that they have found late in the draft and carving out rotation roles for them. With the departure of Caldwell-Pope it is likely that we see expanded roles for both Christian Braun and Peyton Watson. Both players saw nearly 20 minutes of action per game last season, and I would expect that number to tick up a bit. In this era of stricter salary cap rules, the Nuggets have opted to select older college players and develop them on value rookie deals rather than to take huge swings on veteran free agents. They are hoping that this year’s draft selection, Dayton’s DaRon Holmes, fits that mold as well.
The addition of Westbrook will likely serve as a way to replace Reggie Jackson’s 22 minutes per game where he anchored the bench unit, averaging 10.2 points and 3.8 assists per game. It is important to note that Jackson shot 35% from three, which is unlikely to be seen from Westbrook. Instead, I would look for the Nuggets to employ a five out scheme that will free the paint for Westbrook and allow him to make decisions and spray out to shooters when Jokic is resting. It can work, but the dynamics of the bench unit need to be adjusted to coincide with Westbrook’s different playing style.
In the starting lineup, Caldwell-Pope will be replaced by Christian Braun more than likely. Besides that, the core of Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr. That lineup still remains one of the best starting groups in the NBA. It is anchored by Jokic, who continues to be a basketball savant that will be in the MVP discussion yet again this upcoming season. If the Olympics have been any indication, he is as sharp as ever and continues to refine his game to perplex NBA defenses.
The reliance on Braun and Watson this season will mean that Jamal Murray will likely be tasked with more responsibility as both a creator and shot maker, which might finally propel him to the numbers he would need to be an All-Star for the first time in his career. An additional curiosity about the team’s rotation is that Michael Porter Jr is coming off a season where he played 81 games, by far the most of his career. He has struggled with injury throughout his basketball life, so him being able to stay healthy is incredibly important to the championship aspirations of the Nuggets.
Ultimately, this team is one of the few teams that are legitimate title contenders. They have one of the best players in the world who is at the peak of his powers. How they leverage their young players will define just how successful they are. Many have taken an opportunity this off-season to eulogize the Nuggets, but the reality is that they are very much an upper echelon team that very well could be hoisting up another trophy next summer.
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