3 things the Denver Nuggets need to do this offseason

The Denver Nuggets made a terrific run to the Western Conference Final in 2020 before bowing out to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers. Since then Denver’s gotten two MVP seasons from Nikola Jokic but, thanks largely to Jamal Murray’s busted knee, the Nuggets have only won a combined five playoff games.

What became clear in 2022 is the Nuggets not only have to make moves this summer to go from contending to champions but they need to shake things up to even get to contending seriously again.

Here are the three things the Nuggets must do before they tip in the fall.

1. Sign Nikola Jokic to a super-max extension

By far, the most critical move for the long-term health of the Nuggets is signing Jokic to a super-max extension. Luckily for President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly, it may also be the easiest.

After Wednesday’s season-ending loss in the Bay, Jokic told the media he would sign that extension if the Nuggets were to offer it to him. There’s no question the Nuggets will offer the greatest player they’ve ever had to this deal. The figure would be worth between $253 million and $270 million over five years, beginning in the 2023-24 season.

The contract would keep Jokic out of free agency and guarantee his entire prime is spent in Denver, as the deal locks him up through age 33. The negative is that the contract balloons over $50 million per year late in the deal. This type of contract has not worked out great for former MVP Russell Westbrook and John Wall. Ultimately, the Nuggets will do, and should do, whatever they can to keep Jokic in Denver.

 2. Get healthy

The biggest inhibitor for the Nuggets in 2021-22 was health. Murray didn’t play a single game, and Michael Porter Jr. only played a handful of games before getting season-ending surgery. But it wasn’t just these two, as P.J. Dozier suffered a season-ending injury after just 18 games and Zeke Nnaji was limited to 41 games.

Nnaji is under contract for next season, and that’s key. The backup big shot over 50% from three and showed some terrific defensive potential. While already about to be in his third season, he’s only 21-years-old and the Nuggets may have something in him. They certainly could’ve used him many more times in 2021-22.

Dozier had a breakout year two years ago, cracking the rotation and stepping up as a switchable defender who can play anything but center. Dozier was actually dealt while injured for the season but he’s a free agent and has been spotted behind the Nuggets bench in the postseason. There’s a feeling that he may be back in Denver, but he is recovering from a torn ACL.

Porter only played nine games in his fourth season after a historically good, from a shooting standpoint, 2020-21. Many thought MPJ would make a massive jump into stardom this season and instead, there’s a lingering question of any sort of reliability out of the max-contract forward. He’s a career 42% shooter from deep and can add seven rebounds a game—two things the Nuggets desperately need.

Murray built off of his incredible run in the bubble to get even better in 2020-21, scoring 21.2 points per game on 48% shooting, 41% from deep and 87% from the line. He added five assists and four rebounds a night. Murray also became a better defender, even becoming a threat off-ball, nabbing over a steal a game. The several games he played with MPJ after the Aaron Gordon trade might’ve been the best the Nuggets have ever looked at any point in franchise history. Murray was on the cusp of becoming an All-Star before his knee gave out. If the Nuggets are to become champions, they need their star guard to be healthy. He will almost assuredly start next season playing as it seemed he was close to a return in the playoffs. It will be a work in progress to get him to 100% and be one of next season’s big early-season storylines.

3. Build around the big three

If healthy, the Nuggets do have a big three in Jokic, Murray and Porter, at least by money breakdown, but probably by talent as well. What became clear this season is that some of the bigger issues with the Nuggets will not be solved by Murray or Porter’s health.

The Warriors proved what many already thought; the Nuggets do not have adequate perimeter defense. Most of the NBA’s top teams have a shooting guard who can knock down threes and lock up or at the least bother the other team’s point guard. The Nuggets have offensive-minded but just okay Will Barton in this position, signed through next year.

Next to Jokic is Aaron Gordon, who fills a lot of what the Nuggets need. Already signed to a long-term deal, Gordon can play small forward or power forward which is huge considering Porter’s health is the big question mark. He’s a versatile defender with strength, a solid finisher and can knock down some threes.

If there’s a change to the starting five, it will be Barton’s spot. He could be replaced for even more offense and shooting in Bones Hyland or flipped for a player who could take on the opposition’s top player. Hyland himself could eventually turn into an excellent defender given his long wingspan, feel for the game and footwork.
But the Nuggets bench is full of undersized guards who get worked on defense. The best of these is Monte Morris, who is slated to come back next season. Morris didn’t step up for Murray like many had hoped but he’s still a quality backup. The question is, what could the Nuggets get if you traded Barton and Morris together, a combined $25 million. Meaning the Nuggets could make a cap compliant trade for one high-paid player.

They have more assets to make this trade work from the aforementioned Nnaji to the 21st pick in the draft. If they keep that pick it could hit, lengthy big Bradon Clarke was taken there by Memphis just a few years ago.

Rounding out what the Nuggets should be bringing back are Jeff and JaMychal Green, each of which has player options. One of them could be a decent backup power forward despite the Nuggets not really needing anyone there with Nnaji. Each Green proved they weren’t capable of playing center effectively this past season meaning one the biggest Nuggets needs is center. Nnaji might be able to fill that or bringing back Boogie Cousins could be wise. Cousins was one of the Nuggets best players in the postseason but he hasn’t played a minute with Jokic. Could getting a backup big who could also play power forward next Jokic be a better fit?

Austin Rivers and Davon Reed are two players not under contract but fill some of the Nuggets needs. Getting them back for cheap would be beneficial.

So how do you best build around the Nuggets big three?

1. Trade Will Barton for a point of attack defender
2. If you still have your pick after the Barton trade, draft a versatile defender
3. Re-sign Rivers, Reed and Cousins
4. If there’s extra money through an exception, sign the best shooter possible, which might be Bryn Forbes