The Denver Nuggets had to master several challenges at the same time this summer: they had to secure the future, improve and save money at the same time. Maybe they really did manage it.
GM Tim Connelly’s front office had little time to relax in the summer. In the draft Denver was equipped with three picks and after a trade from No.34-Pick Justin Jackson to Orlando the nuggets were there after the talent draw with the picks Michael Porter Jr. (No.14), Jarred Vanderbilt (No.41) and Thomas Welsh (No.59).
In the Free Agency things continued lively. After Nikola Jokic had retired from his contract, a new deal was already agreed on July 1 with the Serbian, which will earn him 147.7 million dollars over the next five years. Will Barton’s expiring contract was also extended (4 years, 53 million). Last year’s two-way players Torrey Craig (2 years, 4.1 million) and Monte Morris (2, 2.9) have now been awarded “real” NBA contracts.
Some veterans left the nuggets via Trade. Wilson Chandler was traded with two second-round picks and Cash for a second-round pick to the Philadelphia 76ers, Kenneth Faried, Darrell Arthur and a first- and second-round pick went to Brooklyn (Faried) and Phoenix (Arthur) for Isaiah Whitehead, who has since been released. In addition to salary cap relief, the nuggets also received trade exceptions of $13.8, $12.8 and $5.9 million.
While Devin Harris rejoined the Mavericks in the Free Agency, the nuggets surprised Isaiah Thomas in mid-July by signing a minimum contract.
The nuggets had to dance on several weddings at the same time in summer, which explains the multitude of their moves: On the one hand they wanted to secure and improve the future of the team, on the other hand they also wanted to save money and avoid the luxury tax for owner Stan Kroenke. The trades of Chandler, Faried and Arthur were almost exclusively financially motivated.
However, the nuggets are hoping to build on the good pre-season, in which they missed out on the play-offs with 46 wins, which seems logical given Paul Millsap’s injury problems last season and the young age of Jokic, Jamal Murray and Gary Harris. Denver counts on the fact that there is still untapped potential in the company’s own management.
Thomas was a risk-free player who could make a difference in the short term, while the draft was based on Porter’s long-term potential.
The nuggets were one of the best offensive teams (rank 6) and one of the worst defensive teams (rank 25) in the league last season. It could be that in the future they will turn out even more extreme in both directions. Millsap and Harris would have to operate at the All-Defensive First Team level to give Denver at least a chance to be defensively solid.
There are simply too many defensive players in the squad who would have to be hidden, and Thomas is an extreme case in this respect. As brilliant as he is offensive, Jokic is no anchor for a good defense, and the nuggets lost a solid and versatile option on the wing, especially with Chandler.
Another weakness in the past season was the turnover susceptibility, which should improve with increasing experience of Murray in particular. And as long as Jokic doesn’t lose interest, you don’t have to worry about the offense in Denver.
Thomas is to be mentioned here for one season. If IT4 returns to its former strength, it will be difficult to pay it next season (even if Millsap’s contract is not guaranteed), unless Kroenke swallows the luxury tax. But if the hyper motivated Thomas leads the nuggets into the playoffs and teaches the young Murray one or two things, the investment would have been worth it for Denver.
Porter, on the other hand, is unlikely to hit directly, and it is not yet clear when he will be available at all. However, the hope in Denver is that the perhaps most talented scorer of his year will realise his potential in the medium term and thus become part of the future core.
The nuggets will be a lot of fun next season and regular offensive fireworks will burn down, that much is certain. A (fun) future is also secured with the new Jokic deal. However, it is unclear whether they have really improved this summer. The front office was not in an easy position due to the directive not to pay luxury tax.
Thomas and Porter were meaningful commitments because both have potential in their own way – but both also have massive question marks, otherwise Denver would not have given them. In this respect, it can be said that Connelly and Co. acted creatively and sensibly according to the situation. Although the Chandler loss will hurt. Athletically, it would have been more pleasant to get rid of Mason Plumlee’s contract instead.
Apart from that there wasn’t much to criticize about the offseason – even though in the strong West there is no guarantee that this team can now make the next step to the actual playoff participant.
The grade: 2