The Western Conference playoff race last season beyond the Rockets and Warriors seemed like a game of musical chairs. A group of seven contenders vied for the other six spots.
When the music stopped, the Nuggets were the team left without a seat. While 49 victories was enough to get the Trail Blazers the No. 3 seed, 46 wins put Denver in the lottery.
During the summer, the Nuggets’ main moves have been to dump salary while retaining their top players. Denver shed the contracts of Kenneth Faried and Darrell Arthur by attaching draft picks to them in a deal with the Nets. It also dealt Wilson Chandler to the Sixers.
That was crucial in helping the franchise avoid luxury tax penalties after they paid a hefty price to re-sign Will Barton and Nikola Jokic. Barton got four years and $53MM; Jokic received a five-year, $147.7MM haul.
Denver did make one interesting low-cost addition. It gave Isaiah Thomas just $2MM to reset his market value. If Thomas can be anywhere near the player he was in Boston before injuring his hip, he’ll be a huge bargain.
The Nuggets used their top draft pick on forward Michael Porter Jr., who says he’s pain-free after a second back surgery. But Porter’s ability to contribute significantly in his rookie campaign remains a huge question mark.
Perhaps the biggest room improvement for Denver comes down to the health of Paul Millsap. He appeared in just 38 games during his first season with the franchise due to a wrist injury. If Millsap can stay on the court, he’ll form one of the league’s most prolific scoring and rebounding duos alongside Jokic.
The brings us to our question of the day: Do you think the Nuggets have the pieces in place to make the playoffs during the upcoming season?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your opinion.
If the Nuggets had won their final game of the year, they would’ve gone into the playoffs and been the 7 seed, playing the Warriors without Steph and, in my opinion beating them.
The style is so perfect for the NBA today and the players fit the scheme, I few them as the 4-5 seed in the West.
Offseason moves leave questions with no Chandler.
Getting IT is a bonus but he has to be integrated and adjusted to; he doesn’t adjust himself.
It’s a positive situation so IT should not be grumpy but we will see.
If IT can integrate Trey Lyles or Stiff Porter into the lineup effectively at the 3, that would be a huge boost. IT’s ball-hogging ability could come in handy!
Probably they will go three-guard with Barton, but that leaves them soft. Jokic has an unusual amount of offensive duties.
Their weakness will be a lack of toughness & D. And it will be tough if they finish 9th again… which I might as well predict.
They are a lock for the playoffs barring an injury from Jokic. Natural progression of the young men, adding IT and whatever MPJ can contribute, I expect quite a bit… they are 100% in the playoffs. Maybe at #4-5. Jokic last year was a top 10 player, this year can only do better. Denver has such a super exciting team.