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Denver Nuggets: How Denver can build a super-team by 2020

By Kevin Oestreicher

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots the ball against Nikola Jokic #15 and Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter of the game on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots the ball against Nikola Jokic #15 and Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter of the game on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 17: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets and Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on during the game on November 17, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 17: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets and Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on during the game on November 17, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Super-teams are taking over the NBA. What would it take for the Denver Nuggets to form a super-team itself?

It’s becoming more and more common in today’s NBA. Stars teaming up and playing with each other, hoping to win multiple championships. Teams trading young assets and future picks for proven All-Stars. The 2007 Boston Celtics, who acquired Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to team with Paul Pierce, the 2010 Miami Heat, who saw LeBron James and Chris Bosh sign with them to pair with Dwayne Wade, and the 2016 Golden State Warriors, who signed Kevin Durant to play with All-Stars Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, are all examples of what we call “super-teams”.

Super-teams tend to dominate in the NBA. With so much star power, even if you defend two all stars to perfection, there’s still a third threat. More teams are looking to acquire all-star talent to compete with teams like the Warriors, because they know that without stars it’s almost impossible to get past them.

The Nuggets have a good foundation, with two all-star talents on their roster in Paul Millsap and Nikola Jokic. They have solid young pieces around them in Jamal Murray and Gary Harris. They just drafted Michael Porter Jr, who was widely considered the #1 prospect in the 2018 draft until a back injury caused him to slip to #14, where the Nuggets pounced. Denver has the makings of a good, young team, but the question remains. Can all of the pieces grow at the right time, giving Denver a super-team of it’s own?

Porter Jr will most likely have to sit out his rookie season. He was the mystery man of the draft, and widely considered a gamble due to his injury. The Nuggets had the depth to take that gamble, and it might pay mightily down the road. Millsap has two years left on his three year, $90 million deal. However, after next year, the Nuggets can decide to let Millsap go, as he has a team option. Harris and Murray look like they are improving their games greatly year by year. Jokic is one of the best players in the NBA. Things are looking up for this team.

There is an accelerated path, which would be signing and trading for superstars. Denver is one of the most promising teams in the NBA, but superstars won’t come flocking to the Nuggets. They aren’t a big market team, and don’t have the appeal of a big city franchise. The Nuggets would have to attract these superstars by becoming one of the best teams in the NBA. They could also trade for them, but would risk losing them in free-agency to a bigger market team if that’s what they desired.

There are a substantial amount of options for the Nuggets if they wanted to take the superstar route. Who might the Nuggets target over the next few off-seasons?

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