What will the Denver Nuggets rotation look like without Peyton Watson?
The Denver Nuggets could've made big changes in the offseason after a disappointing postseason exit, losing in the first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Nuggets executive Josh Kroenke said everything short of trading Nikola Jokic was on the table for the team as they looked to get back to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2023, when they won the NBA Championship.
Instead, they've made minor changes, losing Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown, and Jonas Valanciunas, but adding Alpha Diallo and Marvin Bagley II.
The biggest question for Denver is the status of Peyton Watson, who is still a restricted free agent, and there seems to be little to no movement on a new deal.
If no agreement is reached with Watson, what would the rotation for the Nuggets look like?
The Starting Lineup
PG - Jamal Murray
SG - Christian Braun
SF - Cameron Johnson
PF - Aaron Gordon
C - Nikola Jokic
The starting lineup won't change, especially if Watson is not present. This was Denver's preferred starting lineup last season, though injuries changed things throughout the year. Despite the injuries, that lineup still played the sixth most minutes of any five-man unit in the league.
Removing garbage time, this lineup played 342 minutes together and had a +12.9 net rating, the third best among five-man lineups that played 200+ minutes together.
Simply put, it's a lineup that works, and Denver has no reason to stray away from it, especially in the regular season.
Top Bench Players
Tyus Jones, Marvin Bagley III, Spencer Jones, and Julian Strawther will get the most minutes off the bench.
Jones played in just eleven games last season but was brought in to be the backup point guard to Murray. The Nuggets are hoping for a healthy season to take some pressure off Murray and keep the offense moving.
Bagley III will serve as the backup center to Jokic and should fill the role that Valanciunas played last season. Jones is a multi-position player who can fill multiple gaps, and with the losses of Brown and Hardaway Jr, will see an increase in minutes. The same goes for Strawther, who will move up the lineup with Watson, Brown, and Hardaway not part of the rotation.
Other Rotation Players
Alpha Diallo, DaRon Holmes II, and Trevon Brazille should get minutes and could earn increased roles depending on play.
Diallo is a standout defender from Europe, but will have to prove himself on the offensive end to stay on the floor. Holmes showed promise in limited minutes during his rookie season before an injury ended his year. Brazille is a rookie who could be counted upon if Gordon battles injuries once again.
