Denver Nuggets Offseason Outlook
For a team coming off winning the 2023 NBA Championship in relatively smooth fashion, the expectations for this year’s Nuggets team were high and bordered on perfection. Denver finished with a 57-25 record, which was good for a tie atop the Western Conference standings, even if they did lose the tiebreaker with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Even in the postseason, the Nuggets performed well, taking care of the Lakers in the first round and showing out against the Minnesota Timberwolves for seven games. As they look forward to the offseason though, the Nuggets have a few questions around the roster that need to be answered.
Image via Boardroom
Is KCP Worth the Cost?
The majority of the Nuggets’ success over the past few seasons can be attributed to their top four players, Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr.. While a lot of that praise is warranted, the play of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on the margins and his versatility on both ends of the court were a big reason why the starting five for Denver was the best statistical lineup in the entire NBA this season. KCP has a $15 million player option that he has until the end of the month to pick up in order to stay with the team at the original amount stated in his current contract, but the popular belief is that he will turn that option down in hopes for a larger deal. The Nuggets, who already find themselves in a tricky financial situation, would be able to offer Caldwell-Pope the largest contract, but in doing so they would constrict themselves and their ability to improve the roster with other deals.
Image via Denver Post
Settling on a Good Number for Jamal Murray
Murray is arguably the best player currently playing in the NBA who has yet to make an All-Star appearance. It’s doubtful that he will receive such recognition in the ridiculously talented Western Conference(especially at the guard position), but his true value shows itself in the playoffs. Murray has consistently increased his scoring and playmaking numbers in the postseason, providing clutch shooting like he did against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. He is eligible for an extension to his deal and is entering the last year of his contract. Even though he is receiving $36 million in this, the last season of his deal, Murray can reasonably expect a larger long-term deal, especially if contract extension negotiations run late into the season. Most, if not all, expect the Nuggets to offer Murray a lucrative max deal, but if they do, they will almost certainly be a second apron team, preventing them from making moves around the edges to help fill out the roster.
Image via DNVR Sports
Which One of the Young Pups is Going to Step Up?
As the Nuggets moved through this season, one of the biggest criticisms they faced was the fact that they lacked any significant depth off of their bench outside of Reggie Jackson. After his performance in last year’s postseason, Christian Braun was expected to take a step forward with his development, but he continued to struggle as he received more defensive attention. Because of the team’s financial problems, head coach Mike Malone is hoping to find another contributor amongst the younger players already on his roster. Peyton Watson played better throughout the season and received more minutes once the postseason started, but more production is needed if the Nuggets are going to continue to be at the top of the Western Conference. Candidates for a jump include Jalen Pickett and Julian Strawther, shooters who could provide spacing for the rest of Denver’s offense while also spelling the starting five, saving them from potential injuries in the future.
