The Nuggets’ Path To Success in 2027

With Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray entering their 30s, the Nuggets can’t really afford to throw away seasons. They must do whatever they can to compete every year. The path that gives them the best chance of doing that is running it back with a few minor tweaks. 

One tweak will most likely be the departure of Cam Johnson. Denver must prioritize bringing back Peyton Watson, and according to reports, the team is looking to offer him nearly $30 million per year for possibly four years. Keeping him is paramount because his length, athleticism, and defensive skillset are what this Nuggets team lacks overall. 

If the Watson contract extension happens, Johnson will likely be out the door. The revamped starting lineup should be Jokic, Murray, Christian Braun, Watson, and Spencer Jones, with Aaron Gordon shifted to the bench. That brings me to the next point. 

It’s time that Gordon comes off the bench. His impact is still important to the team, but his inability to be on the court has proven costly in back-to-back postseasons. Many state that he should be traded, but the numbers from this past season suggest otherwise. 

When Gordon played, the Nuggets were 27-9(60+ win pace). The offensive rating was 124.7 and 119.3 without him. The defensive rating was 116.5 without him and 112.0 with him. This team still needs a long, athletic defender, and he can provide that in spurts. 

Flipping Watson and Gordon would be a seamless transition. Watson can take on Gordon’s starting role, while he provides the same defensive value in a bench role. They both are good defenders with long wingspans. They cut the basketball really well and are able to hit the three-ball when needed. 

For the bench, it’s important to bring back Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown, and Julian Strawther. Hardaway and Strawther provide shooting, while Brown does the dirty work. Jonas Valančiūnas will likely not be coming back, so the backup center is something the team must address soon. 

The rookies then come into play. The Nuggets drafted both Trevon Brazile and Bryce Hopkins in the second round. Brazile is a 6’10, 226-pound forward who is known for his strong defense and rim protection, along with hitting the occasional three. Hopkins is 6’6 and 219 pounds, and is best known for his interior scoring and playmaking, and can be a versatile defender. His three-point shot is still a work in progress, sometimes.

The key traits of both Brazile and Hopkins are that they bring something positive to the defensive end. For a team that was ranked in the bottom half in defense, this is what they need. Head Coach David Adelman must integrate them into the team from the jump.

End Of My Denver Nuggets Rant

Many different ideas have been discussed about how Denver needs to approach the offseason. Some say blow it up. Some say to keep everything as is. 

My stance is in line with the latter. The core of Jokic, Murray, Gordon, and Braun should remain on the team. The only changes should be within lineups, such as starting Watson over Gordon. 

There will be a few losses, such as Johnson and Valančiūnas, and while their skillsets are important to the team, it’s easier to replace them than what Gordon brings to the table. The last thing the Nuggets should do is do what the Milwaukee Bucks did and make a panic trade for Damian Lillard. It’s important for this team to realize that they were 53-29 despite the bad injury luck. 

Tweak some minor things and have faith that Jokic and Murray have something left.