This year, following an outstanding regular season, the Denver Nuggets were predicted to win the NBA Championship again. Despite having all of its players healthy for the final stretch, the Nuggets were defeated in seven games by the rising Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals, spoiling the celebration. The Nuggets’ offseason intentions and how they can strengthen their roster for the 2024–25 season are currently the main topics of discussion, following all of the championship hopes.
Denver needs to close a few gaps in order to be competitive in the tough Western Conference, but they will still be a formidable force in the upcoming year. They will need to sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a new contract because he has a player option that expires in the following year. Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray will also be asking for contract extensions.
Less flexibility than in past years will be available on the Nuggets’ roster due to the new salary cap regulations and second apron penalties. As a result, their front office faces a fresh and challenging job in trying to contend with teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Timberwolves.
This is the most pressing issue that their organization needs to address as the offseason draws near.
In the second section, nuggets require depth.
Following the Nuggets’ 2023 NBA Championship victory, NBA analysts would not stop praising Bruce Brown and Jeff Green for their enormous achievements. They didn’t get many minutes, but in the little time they were on the court, they had a huge impact. But in 2024, the coaching staff put all of their faith on new, untested players to improve throughout the postseason.
That proved to be a disastrous move, as Peyton Watson was benched for multiple playoff games, while players like Julian Strawther and Jalen Pickett were not given enough opportunities during the regular season to make a big difference in the postseason. Even though Christian Braun and Justin Holiday had brief moments of exceptional play, they were unable to overcome a team with as much depth as the Timberwolves or Mavericks.
A few secondary pieces that have the potential to blow up can be experimented with by players who are having trouble with their first unit. It makes sense for the front management to bank on the rising potential of their young team, but the Nuggets’ offseason goals should be concentrated on bringing in trustworthy players who can blend in with Murray and Nikola Jokic’s aesthetic.
Teams like the New York Knicks, who added Josh Hart and Isaiah Hartenstein, or the Dallas Mavericks, who added Derrick Jones Jr., P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford are examples of these. Though they are role players that excel in the specific duties assigned to them, these people are not athletes who will demand a large wage.
Despite Denver’s restricted flexibility, they can still acquire a few players for less than mid-level players and find creative methods to make the most of their skill. Reggie Bullock, Alec Burks, and Kelly Oubre Jr. are a few of the big names from this year’s free agent class that will help the Nuggets. These men won’t break the bank and can easily support a team that is striving for a title.
One more extreme strategy that has been suggested is striking a deal with Michael Porter Jr. in order to reduce their budget and add multiple players whose salaries are less than his. It will be difficult to have complete faith in Watson’s growth and ascent to the starting lineup, so the Nuggets must try alternative strategies before tampering with the dynamic of their starting five.
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