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Denver Nuggets players who could contend for NBA awards

By Grayson Moore

DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 1: Will Barton #5 and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets celebrate during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 1, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 1: Will Barton #5 and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets celebrate during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 1, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 12: Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 12, 2018, at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 12: Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 12, 2018, at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

ROY Candidate: Michael Porter Jr.

There have been mixed reports on whether MPJ will play this season.

Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets /

Denver Nuggets

His dad told the Kansas City Star that he could be ready for the start of the season, but Shams Charania tweeted out around the same time that there is no timetable for his return. In the face of confusion, we can only imagine the several scenarios that could play out.

In the scenario I’m envisioning, MPJ is healthy from the start of the season. He eventually takes over the starting small forward job and plays more quality minutes per game. He starts having some insane scoring nights and the Nuggets decide to give him joint-control of the offense with Nikola Jokic to see what he can do. He doesn’t let them down and produces on the level of the MPJ that averaged almost 40 points per game in his senior year in high school.

That situation is incredibly unlikely and almost certainly won’t happen. But, MPJ certainly has the potential to be a ROY candidate. If he is healthy to start the season, and he can make good on that potential, he’ll almost certainly make the 12 teams that passed on him(Clippers twice) very regretful.

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