Roundtable: Is the Nuggets' answer at backup center already on the roster?

One of the top offseason questions surrounding the Nugget is who will be their backup center next season. Ever since Mason Plumlee left town three years ago, Denver has been without a reliable backup to Nikola Jokic. Is the right choice for next season’s backup five already on the roster, and if not, what type of player should Denver target to round out its bench unit? DNVR Nuggets discusses.

Should the Nuggets just sign DeMarcus Cousins as their backup 5?

Adam: It all comes down to price. When healthy and bought in, Cousins is the best option at backup center. But can he stay healthy for a full season? And does he still hope to find a larger role on a team? Those two questions matter a lot with regards to Boogie. My hunch is that the Nuggets will have a different backup center next season but if the market dries up for Boogie, I could see him coming back on a one-year deal.

Harrison: Yes, but for the right price. I’d give Cousins one guaranteed year. That’s it. I don’t trust him to stay healthy enough to give him more than that. If he didn’t price himself out of the Nuggets’ available budget with a strong close to the season then I’d definitely welcome him back to Denver. The Nuggets’ bench went from awful to good just by adding Cousins in January. I detailed that on Monday here. He formed a strong chemistry and synergy with Bones Hyland. He rebounded extremely well. He showed that he can still punish opposing bigs inside. The fouling, technicals and inefficient offense, plus the fact that Cousins is an offensive-first center means that he’s not a perfect fit with this roster considering Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. are returning next season. That being said, Cousins was good last year. Very good. I’d sign up for that again.

Brendan: When Cousins was at his best, he wasn’t just a replacement-level backup, he was a good player in Denver. There are two important factors to consider. The first is of his health and the team’s belief he can play an entire season. With the exception of an initial bump in the road, Cousins stayed healthy in Denver the first time around. But can he do it again at age 32? The second is his price. Cousins played well. So, well, in fact, he might consider a longer contract or expanded role elsewhere. On a short-term deal, I’m in favor of his return.

If not Cousins, who or what type of player should Denver target to back up Nikola Jokic?

Adam: Backup center isn’t the most important role. The Nuggets learned just how important it is to have a backup big but I think you can overcorrect and overvalue the backup center position if you aren’t careful. I rim rolling, paint protecting big on a cheap deal is probably the best bet. Someone who is durable and reliable is key. Anything above that is a bonus.

Harrison: I like Cousins, but he’s not the perfect fit. That perfect fit would be more of a defensive, vertical athlete who can anchor the second unit, be a force at the rim and also versatile enough to play next to Jokic (which we’re not sure Cousins can do yet). I’m actually a JaVale McGee fan and think he’d be a great fit in Denver again. I also think you could play him with Jokic in the same lineup. I do wonder if he’d sign up for another stint with the Nuggets even if he was the clear-cut backup five considering he didn’t really have a defined role last season when Denver acquired him at the deadline. I can’t imagine he was too thrilled with how that situation developed. McGee is my preferred choice.

Brendan: Rim protection starts on the perimeter, where the Nuggets are woeful, but it ends at the rim, where the Nuggets are also woeful. Just one deterrent in the paint could go a long way for Michael Malone and his ability to build at least one, if not multiple defensive lineups. If not Cousins, someone cut from this cloth sounds useful.

Could Zeke Nnaji be the answer at backup center?

Adam: I like Zeke a lot but I think it is important to place him in position to succeed. That starts by allowing him to play the stretch 4 role. Let him guard on the perimeter and outmuscle smaller forwards rather than tie him to the paint and have him play against guys bigger and more athletic than he is.

Harrison: I’m higher on Nnaji than most. Can he be that guy next season? Unlikely. But I definitely think Nnaji can be the backup center long-term. He’s a knockdown shooter and multi-positional defender, although center might not be one of his top-2 best defensive positions right now. If he grows into a more physical player over the summer who gets even stronger he can eventually be the guy. I wonder how the Nuggets view Nnaji and what they’ve asked him to focus on this summer. I bet they look at him as something more than just a 15-minute per game backup five. But I’d be curious to know if they gave Nnaji a summer workout regiment that foucesd on aspects of his game he needed to improve in order to log effective minutes at the backup five next season.

Brendan: I’ve never seen Nnaji as a center. He rebounded well in college, but that hasn’t manifested at the next level, and he’s a timid finisher around the rim. These things can change, but Nnaji always looked more useful at power forward. This seems like a route to take when in exploration or desperation mode. Hopefully, Denver’s in neither with a legitimate backup five on the roster.