Offseason Shift Positions Nuggets for Best Season Since Title Run

Something has been off about the Denver Nuggets since their banner year of 2023. They lifted the Larry O’Brien trophy as a franchise for the first time at the time. It was a dominating season then, and Denver was even better in the playoffs, dispatching the Miami Heat in five games. However, since that title achievement, the Nuggets haven’t looked as dominating. Each summer since their championship, they lost critical key players who were vital to their title. While Denver has maintained their playoff-contending ways, it simply hasn’t been the same, and they haven’t returned to the finals. To waste Nikola Jokić‘s prime would be, well, a waste. Perhaps that is the driving force behind Denver’s recent change in coach and roster personnel. If you’re a Nuggets fan, the offseason changes may actually benefit you. As for the Nuggets themselves, they could be future-altering.

Offseason Shift Positions Nuggets for Best Season Since Title Run

An offseason of change could make the Denver Nuggets better for it going into the 2025-26 NBA season

Michael Porter Jr. was the major offseason change the Nuggets made, but the larger changes came just before last season’s playoffs kicked off. Michael Malone and then-Nuggets GM Calvin Booth were shown the door with just a few games left in the regular season. David Adelman took over and made an immediate impact that eventually landed him a permanent spot as Denver’s head coach. While the Nuggets were beaten out in the second round, Adelman had clearly done enough to earn the promotion.

Back to Porter, his playoff run — which would end up being his last with the Nuggets — was forgettable. It’s likely that his lacklustre play only hastened his eventual trade. In return, the Nuggets received a valuable player in Cameron Johnson. Johnson was seen as a significant upgrade to Porter, and it may very well turn out to be so.

Johnson has long been respected as one of the top 3-and-D players in the league. He can shoot the three at a high and consistent pace while defending exceptionally well on the perimeter. Johnson’s advantage in that space is his size and length. What also bodes well for the Nuggets in acquiring Johnson is his career-high points per game last season (18.8) and field goal percentage (47.5%). The former Brooklyn Net is also a more consistent player than Porter was, although Porter did have his moments in Denver. Johnson’s addition should prove to be valuable to Denver, as they need it to be.

Better than last year?

While Johnson’s addition was an improvement over Porter, the Nuggets also did solid work with the other pieces they brought in. Jonas Valančiūnas has been a formidable presence in the paint his entire career and should slide in well behind Jokić. The pickup of Tim Hardaway Jr. is a sneaky one. While Hardaway can be a streaky shooter, when he’s on point, he’s really on point. But the most notable move outside of Johnson this offseason was bringing back Bruce Brown — a player Denver should have never let walk the summer after they won the title.

Brown has bounced around the league since 2023, but has found his way back to the team he helped immensely win a ring. With Brown returning, the backup presence of Valanciunas, and a valuable threat both offensively and defensively in Johnson, considering what the Nuggets lost this summer in Porter and who they brought in collectively, the Nuggets look more like a championship team this year than they have in the past two.

Of course, this is all just on paper at the moment. The proof will come out when the season kicks off. Still, already, the Nuggets look more threatening. Additionally, the fact that Jokić remains the best player in the world adds to the Nuggets’ chances of competing for a title again this season. It’s very possible that this could be the best iteration of the Nuggets we’ve seen since 2023. If that turns out to be the case, the NBA should welcome Denver back to the fold.

 

 

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