The Denver Nuggets installed a new leadership team who immediately bolstered the roster with ever-coveted depth pieces. Is this the best roster in team team history? Plus, what will the new look bench look like? Adam Mares, Brendan Vogt, and Harrison Wind go around the table on an eventful offseason.
Did Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace assemble the best roster in team history?
Vogt: They have assembled the best roster in team history. We haven’t seen potential depth like this since Nikola Jokić took the keys to the franchise. Whether that roster turns into the best team in history is a question to be answered on the court. The 2023 Nuggets played for each other on the floor and played all of the right notes at the podium. They embraced a keyword of sacrifice throughout the season, eventually honing themselves into a champion without a challenger. It’s one thing to assemble the right parts, and another for them to come together as something greater than the sum. It’s easy to overstate, however, or perhaps even misremember the state of that roster on paper. The lack of depth circled over the season like a threatening cloud, before Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray assured us that lightning was indeed coming, only they were the storm.
Wind: On paper this is the best roster in Nuggets history, but that’s just on paper. What made the 2023 championship team special and a cut above the rest (besides the talent) was the buy-in, the connectivity, and the synergy that group had. For that season, everyone didn’t care about anything except doing what they had to do to win a championship. I think this team has the same mindset, but we have to see it first. Also, I’d still take 2023 KCP over Christian Braun, mainly because of his shooting. I think the defense will probably be a wash this season considering the expectations we have for Braun on that end of the floor. But KCP’s shooting, spacing, gravity and veteran confidence from that year would still rate him above Braun for me right now. That being said, Cam Johnson is a definite upgrade from Porter.
Mares: “Best roster” deems to be different than “best team” so I will say yes. I think this roster makes sense. But the caliber of a roster on paper is not all that goes into becoming a great team. Chemistry, connection, will, toughness, and a whole host of other things go into what makes a team great. This team will have to go through all of the steps required to becoming a great team, just like the championship team did in 2023. But I happen to believe this is the best preseason roster the team has ever assembled which means they are starting from a higher floor and have a higher ceiling on August 1st than any other team in Nuggets history.
The Nuggets added much needed depth. What iteration of the second unit are you most excited to see?
Vogt: Murray-Brown-Hardway-Watson-Valančiūnas
On one hand, sticking with the Murray stagger sounds futile. On the other, he’s in a better position to succeed with NBA-ready players around him, most notably, Jonas Valančiūnas—an appropriately sized center both well trained in the art of screening and talented enough to command some attention in a second unit. Murray’s made his money and won a title as a pick-and-roll guard. Perhaps he can actually run one now without Jokić on the court. Watson doesn’t fit neatly into the power forward role, but the Nuggets need THJ’s shooting prowess to aid the spacing. If Watson isn’t featured at the four, then he’s not featured in this unit, and that feels wasteful. Whether you view him as a prospect or a trade asset, sitting on the bench is the worst case scenario.
Wind: Brown-Hardaway-Johnson-Watson-Valanciunas
I think Jamal Murray will stagger with the second unit a lot this season but I’m most excited to see this lineup. Because if it works, the Nuggets are really in business. The biggest question I have about this team right now is ball handling off the bench. Can Bruce Brown be the full time backup point guard? I think probably, but I’m not 100%. But if he can run this bench unit, Murray has the chance to make it through a season healthier than ever and be more impactful night-in night-out if the Nuggets can lighten his minutes. This lineup has shooting and some plus defense with Brown and Watson. It has shooting with Hardaway and Johnson. Valanciunas can be an offensive hub. I’m hyped.
Mares: Brown-Johnson-Watson-Jokic
This is a bit of a cheat since any lineup with Jokic on the floor shouldn’t be considered “second unit” but I am excited to see Jokic lead bench lineups. Bruce Brown knows how to play off of Jokic. I am higher than most on Cam Johnson’s fit next to the big fella. I think his game will look more dynamic than expected playing off of Jokic in the two-man game. And I hope we get a healthy dose of Peyton Watson playing next to Jokic this year, especially since I think he can play anywhere from SG to PF in these types of configurations. Slot Tim Hardaway Jr. or Julian Strawther in there for more shooting or slot Zeke Nnaji or Daron Holmes in there for more size and defense. We don’t think of Jokic as the stagger but in previous iterations of the Nuggets, the gap between starters and bench was more pronounced. I think this season will provide better options for better blends alongside Jokic.
What is the biggest wild card factor heading into the season?
Vogt: David Adelman and his staff
They could very well be an upgrade in terms of innovation, vision, and of course, freshness in delivery of message. They are, as a matter of fact, a significantly less experienced group than the one in place at the start of last season. There’s an obvious irony here. The playoff run and locker room quotes more than vindicate the decision to move on from Michael Malone. Now, however, the roster has fewer question marks than ever before, while the coaching staff is chalk full of them. They may provide affirming and encouraging answers along the way. In fact, I’m expecting it. But there’s no denying this is a wild card before the season begins.
Wind: Injuries
The Nuggets are a truly veteran team. Jokic will turn 31 this season. Murray will turn 29. Gordon’s about to turn 30. Comparing them to their top competition in the West, the Nuggets are old. That’s not the worst thing in the world. With age comes experience, and we saw that experience pay off last year when Denver pushed OKC to seven games and had every chance to win that series. But injuries and preventing them during the regular season should be top of mind. Gordon’s season was marred by lower body injuries last season and sure enough that’s how his season ended. Mixing the rest of the Nuggets’ bench into lineups throughout the season is something David Adelman has to do.
Mares: Peyton Watson
The only thing the Nuggets are missing from their playoff rotation is a surefire defensive stopper at SF. Peyton Watson could be that guy and I fully expect him to solidify his role as the best perimeter defender on the team by season’s end. But what about his offense? If he works his way into a 40% catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter and dramatically improves his finishing at the rim, I think he will become the team’s 6th or 7th most valuable player. If he doesn’t he will remain a difficult player to trust for large minutes in the playoffs. I think he represents the biggest swing factor in Denver’s title chances this season but I am betting on him looking meaningfully improved in key areas and receiving a longer leash from the new coaching staff.
