The Nuggets have played reasonably well since the start of February, posting a 12-8 record in their last 20 contests. However, Denver’s spot in the Western Conference standings has slipped since then, as the team now finds itself in the No. 9 seed. While the Nuggets are still within three games of four Western playoff teams, they trail the eighth-place Jazz by two full games, and face an uphill battle for a postseason berth.
In addition to having to play catch-up, the Nuggets also have one of the most difficult remaining schedules in the NBA, per Tankathon.com. After facing the Bulls on Wednesday night, the Nuggets will have 10 more games on their schedule, including six on the road — that stretch includes nine games vs. playoff teams and one in L.A. vs. the Clippers, who are right on Denver’s heels for the No. 9 seed.
There are other Western contenders with difficult schedules going forward. The remaining slates for the Thunder, Spurs, Pelicans, Clippers, and Jazz also rank among the 10 toughest in the league, according to Tankathon. Still, while Denver’s playoff hopes remain alive for now, that could change quickly. With a stretch of road games in Washington, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Oklahoma City on tap in the next nine days, the Nuggets’ shot at the postseason could be on life support by the end of the month. FiveThirtyEight’s playoffs odds already only give Denver a 12% chance to make it.
Although the Nuggets didn’t enter the season expected to be a title contender, they were a popular pick to make big strides after adding Paul Millsap in free agency. Denver hadn’t won more than 40 games or made the playoffs for four seasons, but this was the year that was expected to change. Instead, Millsap has appeared in just 27 games due to a wrist injury, and the Nuggets are on the verge of a fifth straight lottery appearance.
The Nuggets have posted a respectable 38-33 record so far, and if Millsap had stayed healthy, they may have added a few more wins to that total. But missing the playoffs would be a disappointing outcome, and could kickstart a discussion about the job security of Michael Malone, who is in his third year as Denver’s head coach.
A lottery appearance would also make for an even more interesting offseason for the Nuggets, who don’t have the cap flexibility to make another splash in free agency like they did with Millsap. If Wilson Chandler and Darrell Arthur pick up their player options for 2018/19, the Nuggets will have about $106MM in guaranteed money on their cap for next season, and that’s without considering a possible raise for Nikola Jokic.
The Nuggets will have to either make Jokic a restricted free agent this summer and give him a long-term deal, or exercise his inexpensive team option, which would put him on track for unrestricted free agency in 2019 and would increase the risk of him leaving Denver. If Jokic gets a new contract this summer, the Nuggets may end up in tax territory without making any real changes to this year’s squad.
It’s not an ideal situation for the Nuggets, who will need a late-season run to salvage their playoff chances for this spring, and will face an offseason of tough decisions whether or not they make the postseason.
What do you think? Can the Nuggets still make the playoffs this year? Will Malone be back if they don’t? What moves could they make this offseason to improve their long-term outlook?
Jump into the comment section below to share your thoughts!
Denver needs an actual PG. why not go out and try and swing a trade for Kemba Walker?
Jokic plays PG, having a shooter like Murray who can also handle some ball handling duties it literally perfect
Short-Term need to dump Faried, a theme every year so far. They also need to find a taker for Plumlee – no clue why they gave him that contract.
I’d just pick up Jokic’s option, and decline Milsaps 30M 2019 club option. This is a play for 2019 scenario… Jokic, Murray, Harris. They should have traded Barton for a pick that they could have used to dump Faried or Plumlee.
Plumlee for Meyers Leonard straight up who says no lol
I agree with Hen. The Nuggets run their offense thru Jokic anyway. Murray, and if necessary Harris are able to bring the ball up and get them into their half court sets. I think just having Millsap heathy for a season, and the expected improvement of their young core would put them in the territory of where the Blazers are currently. Unfortunately, when they miss the playoffs this year I think Malone will be let go.
Jokic’s on/off splits are troubling for them though. They run their offense through him out of necessity even though he’s more than capable. If they were to add a guy like Kemba or anyone of that caliber, they would be very dangerous. Of course that’d mean they probably lose Will Barton, and it doesn’t help that they already overpaid Millsap and Plumlee at a position their best player plays. Who they need to renew at $1M for next year or extend at the end of this year. Tough situation for the Nuggets this year, plus they still need to get rid of Faried. Adding a rookie from that pick they sent to Portland in the Nurk trade would’ve given them more assets to trade too.