Nuggets Roundtable: Can Michael Malone win Coach of the Year?

We’re just under a month away from Nuggets training camp. What’s the biggest hole on the Nuggets’ roster, what’s the preferred 5-man closing lineup, and can Michael Malone win Coach of the Year this season? DNVR Nuggets discusses.

Can Michael Malone win Coach of the Year this season?

Adam Mares: I’m interested to see which members of the Denver Nuggets organization see their profile raise the most this season. My suspicion is that Michael Malone will find himself with a new level of fame and attention throughout the season and that that is a role he will be comfortable with. But coach of the year is almost entirely narrative-driven. He’s checked the most important box by winning the championship and validating his ability as a coach. If the Nuggets are a top two seed out West then he will be in the mix with momentum at his back.

Harrison Wind: He can. Partly because Coach of the Year is typically a season late in recognition and because the Nuggets have a great shot at the No. 1 seed. If the Nuggets repeat last year’s regular season, Malone’s going to get a ton of credit, which he should. It’s difficult to re-focus a team after a championship run, even if they’re as loaded as the Nuggets are. And if Malone can do that, get the No. 1 seed again and have Denver looking as strong and consistent throughout the regular season as it did last season, he will be at the top of most COY ballots.

Brendan Vogt: Malone won’t catch anyone by surprise if the Nuggets thrive, but some candidates enter this discussion a stamped winner rather than an up-and-comer. Another one-seed might be enough, with voters potentially viewing him differently after the championship. He made a significant leap in national perception during the playoff run. He’s savvy with the media. I can buy him winning one eventually in Denver.

What’s your preferred 5-man closing lineup?

Mares: The starters. Every time. There are other configurations that might be more specialized. For example, placing Christian Braun in for Michael Porter Jr. would add more defense at the guard spots. But Denver’s starting lineup is probably the best five-man lineup in the NBA and has the perfect blend of talents, elite length and athleticism, and perfect two-way chemistry. I don’t suspect Michael Malone will go away from it in the clutch very often.

Wind: It’s the starters. But I expect Michael Malone to be more lenient this season in rolling with hot lineups later in games. If Peyton Watson is balling and playing a major role in a close game, I think Malone stays with him in his closing lineup. The same goes for Christian Braun or Reggie Jackson, maybe in place of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope if Jackson is having a great game off the bench. Developing the bench throughout the regular season is going to be a storyline all year long. Keeping those guys’ confidence high will be a priority.

Vogt: The starters. There’s a good argument for Christian Braun closing in Porter’s stead. Wind may have already made it in the above paragraph. Still, Porter’s next step is taking this question off the table through high-floor defense and consistent impact on the offensive end. It’s best for the end game if this question is rendered unnecessary.

What’s the biggest hole on this roster heading into training camp?

Mares: With the season-ending injury to Vlatko Cancar, I’m tempted to say frontcourt depth. But I think playmaking and point guard play will be a bigger issue for the team early on. It’s possible that Reggie Jackson has a bounce-back year and has more in the tank than he showed in Denver or Los Angeles last season. It’s also possible that Jalen Pickett earns Michael Malone’s trust earlier than expected and has a positive impact on the second unit. Both of those outcomes seem possible but unlikely to me.

Wind: Ball handling. Who is Denver going to turn to if Reggie Jackson doesn’t play better than he did last season? The answer is Jalen Pickett. But what happens if Pickett isn’t up to the task? Then things get interesting. It’s part of the reason why I wouldn’t be surprised if Denver’s bench rotation looks quite a bit different post-trade deadline, kind of like it did last season with Jackson and Thomas Bryant. Those acquisitions didn’t work out, but I 100% expect Calvin Booth to be active again at the deadline and in the buyout market. He’ll always be looking to add on the margins.

Vogt: Depth in playmaking. It’s not a problem for Denver’s dynamic duo, but what of secondary playmakers —or even primary ones if Murray and Jokić are off the floor? A lot is riding on Reggie Jackson in this regard after losing Bruce Brown. And even Brown’s ability to fill that hole was slightly overstated. The KCP trade did come at a cost, regardless of how one felt about moving on from certain parties. Between Monte Morris and Will Barton, they took a step back in one aspect for drastic improvement in another. The trade was wise. Still, that exchange rears its head as particularly relevant for the defending champions.