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Denver Nuggets’ off season grade

ByMathew Huff|
The Nuggets kept their win streak alive with a satisfying win against the Charlotte Hornets.Often, this season, the Nuggets have strung together enough good performances that we breathe a little easier and declare they've turned a corner.  That elation is usually followed by baffling defeats to inferior teams.  It's hard to say, with this team, if they've truly overcome the malaise that prevents them from jumping into that top-tier of Western Conference teams.Last night's contest with the visiting Hornets was one of those "trap" games that have plagued this gifted but inconsistent team.  This night was different, though, led by Gary Harris' 27, the Nuggets were able to easily overcome the Hornets, 121-104, leading to further speculation that the Nuggets have shed the underachiever label and graduated to that next level.The win put the Nuggets back into the 6th spot in the Western Conference playoff race, a single game behind 5th place OKC.  Nikola Jokic led with 16 rebounds and Will Barton handed out a team high 8 assists.  Among the starters, only Wilson Chandler did not score in double-digits. The bench performed well, with Lyles, Mudiay and DA combining for 33 points, and Torrey Craig matching Lyles with 7 boards.  Craig had a scare late on a high-flying block attempt (They say Flagrant 1 on  DA, I say clean block.).Over the summer, I wrote about the Nuggets need to stay the course.  My contention was, that, for the 2018-19 season, there is virtually no pathway to a championship for this young team.  Without the addition of several, proven, top players, there is little chance that the Nuggets could beat the Warriors or Rockets over a 7-game series.  The wise path forward, then is to develop the incredible amount of talent this team has cultivated and be prepared for when it is their time.The central theme of my piece was that our core, at full potential, is better than anything we could get in trade or through free agency.  Put another way, at the top of their game, there's not another Center, Shooting Guard or Point that I'd rather have in Denver than Jokic, Harris and Murray.  By way of support, I point to our 2-2 record against the Champs and the last week of games.  This team is on the verge of breaking through.This is specifically why I bristle at the rumored trade scenarios out there for the Nuggets.  There is no value in making moves just to make moves.  I can't make the case that this team would be markedly improved by the addition of Kemba Walker, Elfrid Payton, Marcus Smart or any of the proposed PG swaps that we've heard (Collison?).  We saw Kemba last night, we've seen Payton, I just don't see that their games would improve the Nuggets fortunes enough to mess with what has become great chemistry on this team. If we need a lesson on what damaging team chemistry can do to a tight team, we need look no further than across I-25 to the aftermath of the Broncos decision to part ways with TJ Ward.  A seemingly small move, with a rising stud coming up behind him in Justin Simmons but it had an impact on a secondary that had finished first in the NFL two consecutive years.I get that professional sports are a business.  I get that an immeasurable value like "chemistry" is difficult to attach a lot of team resources to but if this team has turned a corner and is competing and beating the top teams in the league, what need is there to upend that?  We are already facing the imminent return and reintegration of Paul Millsap, which for all intents and purposes will be like acquiring him via trade. The fan base is easily placated with wins, so there's no need to appease them.  The Nuggets have the highest increase in attendance in the league, they just had the largest crowd in their Pepsi Center history.  They are smiling, they are enjoying this (Gary Harris declining to get posterized by Dwight Howard was classic).  Until they show signs of regression, someone is going to have to explain to me why there's such a push to make a move before the trade deadline on Thursday.This will, of course, all be put to the test on Friday against a Rockets team that's pushing Golden State for the top record in the league.  James Harden is playing the best basketball of his career and looks unstoppable.  It's fitting, then that whatever team the Nuggets roll into Houston with is the team they will carry to the end of the season.  I for one, believe in this team, as constituted.  It's been fun to fantasize about what-if scenarios for LeBron or Kawhi but the realistic prospects for the Nuggets don't justify tinkering with a team that's playing as good as any in the League.As we saw last night, the Nuggets are fully capable of powering through trap games, coming off of big wins.  If that maintains, it's one of the final hurdles to this team making some postseason noise and one step closer to NBA legitimacy.
The Nuggets kept their win streak alive with a satisfying win against the Charlotte Hornets.Often, this season, the Nuggets have strung together enough good performances that we breathe a little easier and declare they've turned a corner.  That elation is usually followed by baffling defeats to inferior teams.  It's hard to say, with this team, if they've truly overcome the malaise that prevents them from jumping into that top-tier of Western Conference teams.Last night's contest with the visiting Hornets was one of those "trap" games that have plagued this gifted but inconsistent team.  This night was different, though, led by Gary Harris' 27, the Nuggets were able to easily overcome the Hornets, 121-104, leading to further speculation that the Nuggets have shed the underachiever label and graduated to that next level.The win put the Nuggets back into the 6th spot in the Western Conference playoff race, a single game behind 5th place OKC.  Nikola Jokic led with 16 rebounds and Will Barton handed out a team high 8 assists.  Among the starters, only Wilson Chandler did not score in double-digits. The bench performed well, with Lyles, Mudiay and DA combining for 33 points, and Torrey Craig matching Lyles with 7 boards.  Craig had a scare late on a high-flying block attempt (They say Flagrant 1 on  DA, I say clean block.).Over the summer, I wrote about the Nuggets need to stay the course.  My contention was, that, for the 2018-19 season, there is virtually no pathway to a championship for this young team.  Without the addition of several, proven, top players, there is little chance that the Nuggets could beat the Warriors or Rockets over a 7-game series.  The wise path forward, then is to develop the incredible amount of talent this team has cultivated and be prepared for when it is their time.The central theme of my piece was that our core, at full potential, is better than anything we could get in trade or through free agency.  Put another way, at the top of their game, there's not another Center, Shooting Guard or Point that I'd rather have in Denver than Jokic, Harris and Murray.  By way of support, I point to our 2-2 record against the Champs and the last week of games.  This team is on the verge of breaking through.This is specifically why I bristle at the rumored trade scenarios out there for the Nuggets.  There is no value in making moves just to make moves.  I can't make the case that this team would be markedly improved by the addition of Kemba Walker, Elfrid Payton, Marcus Smart or any of the proposed PG swaps that we've heard (Collison?).  We saw Kemba last night, we've seen Payton, I just don't see that their games would improve the Nuggets fortunes enough to mess with what has become great chemistry on this team. If we need a lesson on what damaging team chemistry can do to a tight team, we need look no further than across I-25 to the aftermath of the Broncos decision to part ways with TJ Ward.  A seemingly small move, with a rising stud coming up behind him in Justin Simmons but it had an impact on a secondary that had finished first in the NFL two consecutive years.I get that professional sports are a business.  I get that an immeasurable value like "chemistry" is difficult to attach a lot of team resources to but if this team has turned a corner and is competing and beating the top teams in the league, what need is there to upend that?  We are already facing the imminent return and reintegration of Paul Millsap, which for all intents and purposes will be like acquiring him via trade. The fan base is easily placated with wins, so there's no need to appease them.  The Nuggets have the highest increase in attendance in the league, they just had the largest crowd in their Pepsi Center history.  They are smiling, they are enjoying this (Gary Harris declining to get posterized by Dwight Howard was classic).  Until they show signs of regression, someone is going to have to explain to me why there's such a push to make a move before the trade deadline on Thursday.This will, of course, all be put to the test on Friday against a Rockets team that's pushing Golden State for the top record in the league.  James Harden is playing the best basketball of his career and looks unstoppable.  It's fitting, then that whatever team the Nuggets roll into Houston with is the team they will carry to the end of the season.  I for one, believe in this team, as constituted.  It's been fun to fantasize about what-if scenarios for LeBron or Kawhi but the realistic prospects for the Nuggets don't justify tinkering with a team that's playing as good as any in the League.As we saw last night, the Nuggets are fully capable of powering through trap games, coming off of big wins.  If that maintains, it's one of the final hurdles to this team making some postseason noise and one step closer to NBA legitimacy.

As the off season comes to a close, we take a look at what was a busy summer for the Denver Nuggets.

The Denver Nuggets were a dark horse this off season. They made many key moves, but they were still a below the radar team within the media. While everyone was focused on LeBron making his move to the City of Angels, the Nuggets vastly improved their already talented roster.

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For starters, they locked up their best player long term signing Nikola Jokic to a max deal. A deal for four years worth $148 million. That is LeBron James type of money to put things into perspective.

The one move which was kind of perplexing was bringing Will Barton back for another four years. We will see how well that turns out, especially with him starting at small forward this coming season.

Then, came the draft. Denver arguably got the steal of the draft when Michael Porter Jr. landed in their laps. If he can get healthy and live up to his potential, Denver will be scary in a couple of seasons.

The Nuggets were not done yet. The front office found a way to get below the tax threshold by off loading the contracts of Wilson Chandler, Darrell Arthur and Kenneth Faried. Chandler made his way to the 76ers while Arthur and Faried were traded to the Brooklyn Nets. They then decided to give Torrey Craig a chance by giving him a legitimate NBA contract.

Perhaps the biggest splash of the summer for the Nuggets though, was getting Isaiah Thomas on a veteran minimum deal. What is most impressive about this move is they got a MVP candidate from just two years ago for cheap. A player who was projected to make the max not too long ago. If Thomas is even a fraction of the Boston I.T., then the rest of the league better watch out for this Nuggets squad.

Finally, Denver brought up Monte Morris from the G League after his impressive Summer League showing. He will be a key staple at the point if Isaiah does not pan out.

With all of this in mind, I give the Nuggets an off season grade of B+. The only thing preventing an A for me is the contract given to Will Barton. Barton now possesses a deal worth $54 million for four years. Barton is one of the few players who can create his own shot, but he was a little overpaid for my taste.

Outside of this though, I have no real problem with the rest of the moves the front office made this summer. Hopefully, it will pay off this coming season.

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