The Denver Nuggets’ season concluded in a heartbreaking loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, leaving them with tough choices to make in the offseason.
NBA Trade Rumors: As the offseason approaches, the Denver Nuggets might need to consider making a bold move. Here are three potential options they should explore.
The Denver Nuggets’ season ended suddenly and unexpectedly with a 98-90 home loss in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals. This defeat was particularly harsh for the Nuggets, who had led by as much as 20 points in the third quarter before the Minnesota Timberwolves staged the largest Game 7 comeback in the past 25 years.
With the Nuggets unable to defend their title as world champions, they now face some difficult roster decisions in the offseason. Here are three moves they should consider making to strengthen their team and enhance their chances of winning the championship next season.
1. Acquire another star player to pair with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray through a trade
A key factor in the Denver Nuggets’ early playoff exit this season was the offensive struggles of their star point guard, Jamal Murray. Last year, Murray was outstanding in the playoffs, averaging about 26 points and seven assists per game with a true shooting percentage of 58.6%. This postseason, however, he was significantly less productive, averaging 21 points and six assists per game with a true shooting percentage of 47.4%.
His struggles significantly contributed to the Nuggets’ offensive rating of just 110.6 in the playoffs, which was below average compared to this year’s playoff teams. Murray is a crucial part of their offense, and when he underperforms, they lack another strong ball handler to share the offensive burden with Nikola Jokic.
Given this situation, I think the Nuggets should explore the market to see if they can bring in another star player, especially someone with strong ball-handling skills, scoring ability, and possibly playmaking capabilities as a secondary ball handler. It might be worth considering trading Jamal Murray for a top-notch primary ball handler like Trae Young or Donovan Mitchell. However, acquiring a third star through a trade might be a more feasible option for the Nuggets.
The Nuggets have multiple players they could consider targeting, such as Mikal Bridges, Brandon Ingram, and Zach LaVine. Bridges would be an excellent fit for their team because he excels in a low-usage offensive role, offers strong perimeter defense, and is a great three-point shooter. This makes him an ideal candidate for a third star, particularly in the Nuggets’ context. I believe Bridges would be a better fit in Denver compared to Ingram and LaVine, as the latter two have certain flaws in their game that might raise concerns about how well they’d integrate with this roster.
To secure a second championship, the Denver Nuggets require additional offensive firepower. While Jamal Murray must improve from his performance this postseason, they may also require another top-tier starter who can contribute significant scoring and/or playmaking alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
2. Consider making changes involving Michael Porter Jr. and/or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
The Denver Nuggets faced a shortfall in production from their wing players, such as Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, during this postseason. Although Michael Porter Jr. contributed reasonably well as a scorer and shooter, his output didn’t align with his hefty contract, valued at nearly $36 million annually. This significant investment has impacted their roster depth, prompting the need to contemplate trading him to enhance overall roster quality.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had a disappointing performance this postseason, and his contract is set to expire after the next season. Given his age, it’s uncertain what his trade value might be. However, the Nuggets should think about finding a replacement wing who complements Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray and can be counted on in crucial postseason moments.
Executing these changes is undoubtedly challenging, but it’s difficult to envision the Nuggets maintaining elite status with Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope earning a combined total of nearly $50 million per season. Their on-court performance doesn’t justify such a substantial investment. If feasible, the team must make significant revisions to their wing rotation.
3. Enhance the depth of their bench
For quite a while, the Denver Nuggets have been grappling with a significant problem concerning their bench strength. Beyond their starting lineup, they lack dependable players for the playoffs. Regrettably, the Nuggets’ financial situation is quite dire; they have no available cap space and are constrained by the first and second aprons, severely limiting their options to sign new players.
This is another factor indicating that they will probably need to trade some of their current starting players, such as Michael Porter Jr. or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. To address their critical need for depth improvement, they must trade at least one of these players.
If the Nuggets manage to resolve their salary cap challenges, they should prioritize acquiring a backup center and at least one additional guard or wing player. While they already have several young wing players on their team, such as Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, and Julian Strawther, who could potentially take on larger responsibilities in the future, their inconsistency in the playoffs suggests that the Nuggets may need to look to free agency to address their depth issues.
Some potential free agent options that could suit Denver well are Dennis Smith Jr., Kelly Oubre Jr., and Mason Plumlee. These three players are restricted free agents with contracts valued at under $4 million annually. Securing the cap space to sign one or two of them could significantly benefit the Nuggets’ team dynamics moving forward.
