What will the Nuggets do without Jokic

Nikola Jokic has tested positive for the coronavirus. The Nuggets’ chances to advance in the playoffs are severely hurt as a result.

The Denver Nuggets suffered a major blow to their championship chances when the news broke of Nikola Jokic’s positive coronavirus test, first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Presently, the plan is for Jokic to join the team in a few weeks, but with the climate around the pandemic rapidly changing, it’s unclear what impacts this may have on Jokic and the team over the next few weeks.

More and more players continue to turn up positive tests, as within the last day both Malcolm Brogdon and Jabari Parker also came down with the disease. Jokic is described as asymptomatic and is feeling well. But for the Nuggets, assuming the NBA continues to press forward with their plans to resume play at the end of July, their hopes and dreams took a major hit.

Fortunately for the Nuggets, the team is one of the deepest teams in the Western Conference, and in the entire league. Paul Millsap, Mason Plumlee, and Jerami Grant can hold the fort down in the front court while Jokic gets healthy. But the team does appear to lack a true center as all three of the aforementioned players are traditionally power forwards.

The Nuggets have already been active in the transaction window, converting P.J. Dozier from a two-way contract player into an active roster player signed through the rest of the season. Joakim Noah had already been brought in by the Clippers before play stopped, zapping the Nuggets of any chance to bring him aboard.

There have been conflicting reports surrounding the intentions of Demarcus Cousins, but it so far looks as though he will not play in Orlando. Dragan Bender could be an option, but he has consistently disappointed ever since being drafted high up in the lottery by the Phoenix Suns.

Denver will likely simply have to make it work with the horses they have in their stable. With plenty of guard depth and veteran big men to spell the front court, Michael Malone, fresh off of his own battle with the virus, will have plenty of cards to play.