The Nuggets are going to be among the most feared teams in the NBA for the foreseeable future. But in three years, will they be quite as imposing?
The Nuggets have a lot of growth to do before they can reach the level of either team in Los Angeles. But as they continue on towards their build to the top, they are going to need a few tweaks to their roster and the rotation.
Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic, and Gary Harris are the biggest names on the team that remain signed up for the next two seasons. If the salary cap were to continue to rise, would they remain on the team as currently constructed?
With the development of Michael Porter Jr. continuing on, the team might not be as compelled to jump into major trade discussions with other teams regarding making a move for a third superstar. Instead, the Nuggets can prioritize keeping their team intact and supplementing the rotation with draft picks, such as the one they received from the Houston Rockets for Malik Beasley.
But, between the three of them, Gary Harris appears to be the odd one out. The Nuggets won’t have a lot of wiggle room under the luxury tax to begin with in the coming years, and Harris’s exorbitant salary is going to make things more and more difficult for roster depth.
Furthermore, the Nuggets would be wise to do their best to bring back Monte Morris over the long term, as well as defensive savant Torrey Craig. But until then, Denver is in need of reinforcements both on the wings and in the interior. Both Paul Millsap and Mason Plumlee are free agents at season’s end, and will be difficult to replace.
But assuming the Nuggets can help themselves with a couple of shrewd moves for their bench along the way, they will be able to survive the losses of their two big men by downsizing and providing more depth for Jamal Murray. The Isaiah Thomas signing from two summers ago was done in part to get that accomplished, but having another capable backup is crucial for the Nuggets.
Moving forward, Denver needs to keep up their depth without surrendering Jokic or Murray. But the presence of Michael Porter Jr., Torrey Craig, and Will Barton are going to soften any loss they make in a big trade, likely involving Gary Harris.
Add us as a preferred source on Google