Three Stories That Will Define Nuggets Training Camp

In each of the past two seasons, the Nuggets had the NBA's 21st-ranked defense. Even last year, when they had the league's top offense, their defense weighed them down.

In training camp this year, there should be a clear priority from David Adelman and his coaching staff to improve the defense and make it a real focus for the players. With stars like Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, the offense will always be fine. But if they can't make things work on the other end, they will not be a serious contender.

This summer, the Nuggets hired veteran coach Dave Joerger to be Adelman's lead assistant, already showing where their minds are at heading into the new season. Things should definitely get better with Joerger in the mix, but it is still a group effort to get this team's defense working.

How the new guys fit

This offseason, the Nuggets added DeMar DeRozan, Marvin Bagley, Alpha Diallo, and rookies Trevon Brazile and Bryce Hopkins. They are also bringing in Lonnie Walker IV to training camp, with reports suggesting Cam Whitmore could also be on his way to Denver before camp, potentially giving the two athletic wings a chance to compete for the Nuggets' final roster spot.

While the Nuggets kept their starting lineup together this offseason, these new guys will be just as important to the team's success.

DeRozan is expected to be the team's new sixth man, and if the 37-year-old veteran looks as good as we expect, he could save their bench unit. Diallo, the EuroLeague Best Defender award winner, has the potential to be a defensive stopper for Denver's second unit, but questions remain about how he will adjust to the NBA. The Nuggets know what they're getting out of Bagley, but how he fits into their new backup frontcourt will certainly be worth monitoring.

It will also be good to look at how Brazile, especially, fits in. The talented 23-year-old rookie out of Arkansas will immediately be the team's most athletic player. His physical traits, mixed with a solid defensive presence, an improving three-point shot, and strong rebounding, create a player the Nuggets might want to lean on this season.

The backup frontcourt battle

Last season, the backup frontcourt was a bit of a weak spot for the Nuggets. Now, they will have some tough decisions to make. The following players will all be competing for minutes at the backup power forward and center spots: Spencer Jones, Marvin Bagley, DaRon Holmes, Zeke Nnaji, and Trevon Brazile.

We should certainly expect to see Jones and Bagley every game, but who else will earn minutes? The Nuggets certainly want to see Holmes take a leap after injuries dragged down the start of his NBA career, but he will need to earn a spot in the rotation first. Denver seems done with Nnaji, but it is much harder to trade a player who doesn't play. As for Brazile, a good training camp could immediately put him in the rotation, but realistically, it might take some patience.

Right now, we can project Denver's bench unit to mainly consist of Tyus Jones, Julian Strawther, DeMar DeRozan, Spencer Jones, and Marvin Bagley. However, it would be great to see Diallo, Brazile, and Holmes each get their fair share of opportunities. This backup frontcourt will especially be tough for Adelman and his staff to figure out, though.