If The Denver Nuggets Don't Make a Move, How Can They Improve?

After writing my Best in the West article yesterday, I immediately began to contemplate about the Denver Nuggets and their entire offseason in perspective.While major trades and signings have taken place not only within their Conference, but amongst their division as well, the Denver Nuggets organization have insisted on calmly sitting back in recline and crossing their legs on top of the table.Flashing back to last season, the Denver Nuggets ended the year with a Division best, 54-28 record, finishing the season as the two seed upon entering the playoffs.The Nuggets shocked many fans, surpassing both New Orleans and Dallas, and advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 24 years (1985-lost to LA in 5 games).With extreme momentum on Denver's side, the aggressive and determined Nuggets were able to compete against the first place Lakers, tying the series up at 2-2 before getting defeated two games afterward.Going back to the present, how can the Nuggets organization truly believe that they have what it takes to not only make it back to the Western Conference Finals, but knock out the only team that sent them home packing when they have yet to make a single move during the offseason? (expect re-signing Birdman). Taking a look at the top contending teams in the West; the Lakers signed Ron Artest, the Spurs acquired Richard Jefferson via trade, signed Antonio McDyess, and Theo Ratliff, the Mavericks traded for Shawn Marion and signed Drew Gooden, and the Blazers signed veteran point-guard Andre Miller.So what can the Nuggets do to improve their roster?Since they are over the luxury tax, whatever contract they offer to a player, they have to pay double. (Ex: Sign David Lee for $10 mill per year, they have to pay $20 mill).Although, the Nuggets do indeed have both their bi-annual exception ($1.99 mill) and part of their mid-level exception (a portion was used on the re-signing of Chris Anderson).In addition, the Nuggets still have big time trade exception money from when Marcus Camby was dealt away. While even though a small amount was used in order for the Iverson deal to be made, A.I's departure gave Denver even more trade exception money (in which another small amount was used to acquire Arron Afflalo). With Denver sitting tight and obviously not looking to use their trade exception money on a big time player (which would send them even further into the luxury tax), their overall ranking and value continues to diminish by the minute.The only thing Nugget fans can do is sit back, (just like the entire organization), relax, and hope for the best entering the upcoming season.Who knows, maybe a big deal will go through for Denver before the trade deadline. If that were to happen, they would undoubtedly sky-rocket back into the Western Conference contention. var fansnap_syndslot_clientId = "720815042-869600645"; var fansnap_syndslot_template = "blu-nba-300x250"; var fansnap_syndslot_category = "NBA"; var fansnap_syndslot_numResults = 1;