The 2024-25 NBA season is here! We’re breaking down the biggest questions, best- and worst-case scenarios, and fantasy outlooks for all 30 teams. Enjoy!
DENVER NUGGETS
2023-24 finish
Offseason moves
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Additions: Russell Westbrook, Dario Saric, DaRon Holmes II
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Subtractions: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Reggie Jackson, Justin Holiday
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Complete roster
The Big Question: Can the Nuggets stem the tide of attrition?
The Nuggets have Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. and … who else exactly? Do not get me wrong: That is an incredible top four — the foundation of a team that won the championship in 2023 — but the rotation around them has taken hits over the past two summers.
Bruce Brown and Jeff Green left for more money after the title run, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope did the same this past offseason. None of them is a game-breaker, necessarily, but added together they are enough to wage a war of attrition. Without Brown and Green, Denver could not extract the value it would have hoped from Christian Braun and a collection of rookies to avoid a second-round playoff exit.
Now what? Does the loss of Caldwell-Pope tug them further from contention?
Let us slow down for a moment. The Nuggets still boast Jokić, the best player alive, an offense unto himself and a walking 50-win season, so long as he stays healthy. They have Murray, whose pick-and-roll partnership with Jokić forms the most lethal offensive combination in the league. Porter is a flame-thrower from the peak of his 7-foot wingspan, while Gordon possesses untold strength and athleticism.
Throw in anyone, and that group will cause plenty of problems, as it did last season, when they outscored opponents by 14.5 points per 100 meaningful possessions without Caldwell-Pope in the lineup with them.
But are they enough to navigate the Western Conference gauntlet, much less defeat whoever emerges from the East? Certainly not if Murray still needs to get a handle on his health. He told reporters on media day that he has no limitations from the knee injury that cost him the entire 2021-22 campaign or the ailments that contributed to his poor performances in last season’s playoffs and the Olympics.
The Nuggets are always one injury away from fielding an even thinner rotation. There is one big name who joined them — former MVP turned 36-year-old journeyman Russell Westbrook — but he brings with him his own set of complications. He is the worst high-volume shooter in NBA history and a detriment to any defensive scheme. He is also an incredibly explosive playmaker in the open floor. The lot of it has led him to a single playoff series victory in the past seven seasons, despite a string of All-Star teammates.
Perhaps more important is the continued development of Braun, Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther. That was also last season’s plan, when Watson and Strawther provided nothing in a second-round loss to Minnesota. It is one thing to expect Braun to contribute; he was a valuable piece of their title team. It is another to require a host of prospects to support at once.
But again: Jokić and Murray will provide the space necessary to excel, if anyone is ready to seize his role. They will create open shots, reward cutters and rescue broken-down possessions. There will be growing pains. At what heights Denver’s youth stands at season’s end will dictate whether this season ends like the previous season or the one before it. It is within their reach. Remember: A blown 20-point lead in Game 7 against the Timberwolves is all that stood between them and a return to the conference finals.
Best-case scenario
Denver’s investment of a maximum contract for Murray is a reflection of their confidence in his health. He and Jokić barnstorm the league, and everyone else raises their game. Porter contributes more than just his shot. Braun seizes his spot as a fifth starter. Westbrook injects some ferocity into the bench. As Gordon told reporters on media day, everyone on the Nuggets should feel compelled to “[hold] up my end of the bargain.” That bargain? With Jokić in his prime, he gives his team a title shot every season.
If everything falls apart
Murray cannot stay on the floor or is diminished when he is on it. We see no marked improvement from Denver’s youth. Westbrook injects chaos into the bench instead.
The rumors circulating about tensions between head coach Michael Malone and the front office have become a significant distraction for the Denver Nuggets. Unfortunately, this distraction has resulted in another disappointing second-round playoff exit for the team. Ownership is now questioning the wisdom of investing an additional $80 million in Porter through the 2026-27 season. As a result, Denver is considering hitting the reset button around Jokić and Murray.
Fantasy Analysis
While many praise Jokić as one of the top fantasy assets in the league, it’s worth discussing Murray’s situation. Despite concerns about his health and recent lackluster performances, the market remains optimistic. Personally, I am cautious about Murray’s fifth-round Average Draft Position (ADP) and would advise fantasy managers to approach it with caution.
In points leagues, Gordon is a player worth targeting. His role in the dunker’s spot for Denver has allowed him to excel in scoring, rebounding, and playmaking, making him a valuable asset for fantasy managers. — Dan Titus
2024-25 Season Outlook
Having averaged 53 wins per season over the last six years, Jokić has set a high standard for himself as one of the game’s best players. Despite any concerns about the team’s depth, he is expected to lead the Nuggets to another successful season. I recommend taking the over on their projected win total.