Misplaced within the controversy surrounding their newest acquisition, the Denver Nuggets have had a surprisingly sturdy low season. They managed to improve their roster dramatically regardless of having only a few property.
They properly traded Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round decide to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Johnson after which managed to make sturdy transfer after sturdy transfer. They signed former Nugget Bruce Brown to a minimal contract, added sharpshooting veteran Tim Hardaway Jr. on one other minimal deal, and traded for Jonas Valanciunas.
These 4 new additions’ mixed wage for subsequent season is simply $37.1 million. Evaluate that to Porter Jr.’s $38.7 million wage, they usually not solely received cheaper, however they received a lot deeper too.
The Nuggets’ newfound depth is a large improve
With a workforce that may depend on a minimum of 10 gamers subsequent season, the Nuggets instantly seem like contenders as soon as once more. They beforehand ran out of fuel within the 2025 NBA playoffs in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the Western Convention semifinals. Nevertheless, they seemed like the higher workforce for lengthy stretches of that collection.
Extra depth may assist Nikola Jokic and their workforce return to the NBA Finals. Johnson could possibly be the right alternative for Porter Jr., contemplating he’s a stellar 3-point shooter, with a profession 39.2% 3-point taking pictures share.
It may be argued that Porter Jr. is the extra gifted participant of the 2, however Johnson is a extra constant participant and could possibly be a greater match taking part in alongside the three-time MVP. Regardless of taking part in with the Nets final season, which was actively tanking, Johnson averaged a greater than respectable 18.8 factors per recreation and shot 39% from three.
He had nowhere close to the extent of teammates he may have in Denver and could possibly be in for a profession season that might assist propel the Nuggets again into title rivalry. Bringing again Brown for the minimal was additionally an enormous get contemplating how effectively he performed the final time he was with the Nuggets.
The Denver Nuggets are a real contender as soon as once more
He’ll present the workforce with a shooter and a defender who can even play as a defacto level guard when paired with Jokic. The 2 had excellent chemistry throughout his first stint in Denver.
Tim Hardaway Jr. is a streaky, high-volume 3-point shooter. However for the minimal, he could possibly be a pleasant addition contemplating that the Nuggets ranked simply thirtieth in three-point makes an attempt and twenty eighth in three-point makes final season.
Having somebody who can are available and hopefully knock down threes at a excessive clip ought to assist the Nuggets, who managed to attain effectively regardless of not being a prolific three-point taking pictures workforce final season. Valanciunas, regardless of the controversy surrounding whether or not he’ll really go well with up for the Nuggets subsequent season, continues to be a viable choice at backup heart.
He has loads of expertise as a starter. Extra importantly, he’s nonetheless succesful sufficient of giving the Nuggets quarter-hour per recreation throughout the common season and 12 minutes a recreation throughout the postseason.
That may not look like a lot, however contemplating how the Nuggets struggled when Jokic was off the ground, having a succesful backup could possibly be big. Having a rested Jokic is vital to a different deep playoff run.
All instructed, there’s hope that the 4 gamers Denver turned Porter Jr. into make sufficient of a distinction to rework them into true contenders as soon as once more. If that is the case, then they could possibly be a risk to the Thunder and to creating the NBA Finals.
