Looking at the Denver Nuggets having a bounce-back season next year.
The Denver Nuggets are hoping to get back to at least the Western Conference Finals after three straight exits before the third round.
The Nuggets lost in six games to the Minnesota Timberwolves this past season, a disappointing exit after another 50-win season where they finished third in the Western Conference.
Denver has maintained its championship core of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon, the trio that led them to a title in 2023, but after three disappointing seasons, questions have to be asked about the future of the core.
Though the last three seasons have ended in disappointment, the Nuggets are still set up for success moving forward.
Trade Options
Don't expect Denver to run it back in the same capacity. At the very least, Cameron Johnson or Christian Braun are likely to be traded to make room for Peyton Watson's extension.
It is unclear what Johnson or Braun will fetch on the open market, especially Braun with his contract extension kicking in, but exchanging parts for better fits will benefit Denver moving forward.
Johnson performed well in his first season with Denver, but was ultimately seen as a downgrade from Michael Porter Jr, who thrived as the lead option in Brooklyn.
Braun had a disappointing season with his extension worth $21 million next season about to kick in. He regressed on both ends of the floor from the prior season, and his value is questionable moving forward.
Even if they don't get perceived equal value for Braun or Johnson, they could get better fits around Jokic, which could go a long way.
They could go even further and trade one or both of Murray and Gordon. It might be a drastic move, but both still have value to potential contenders, and Denver might feel it's worth it to take a big swing.
Nikola Jokic
The biggest reason why the Nuggets are in a fine position moving forward is that they have Nikola Jokic, who shows no signs of slowing down on the offensive end.
He didn't have his greatest playoff performance ever, and though the standards for him are high, he's still the best offensive player in the league.
The Nuggets simply have to identify the best fits around him. Whether that's getting a younger and more dynamic ball handler, better defensive fits who can knock down shots, or wings who can find gaps and openings.
As long Denver has Jokic, there is no reason to think they won't be a contender.
