Russell Westbrook has given the Denver Nuggets a gift. After declining his 2025-2026 player option, the Nuggets are no longer tied to Westbrook through next season and can begin to look elsewhere to help bolster their forever ongoing weakness: the bench.
My preferred answer at backup point guard is already on the roster: Jalen Pickett.
Yes, the Nuggets will have to sign somebody to replace the energy and defense that Westbrook provided last year. Ideally, Denver can convince Bruce Brown to come back on a discount. But still, even with Brown, Denver is low on proven bench guys who can shoot, handle the ball, and create shots for others. And Brown, even at his best, is not a true point guard.
Enter Jalen Pickett. In my eyes, Pickett was not utilized correctly last season. Not only was he caught in the crosshairs of the toxic political drama between Michael Malone and Calvin Booth, but when he did play, he was often stuck in two-guard bench lineups with Westbrook, ball watching from the corner while Westbrook initiated offense. When Jamal Murray and Russ were both healthy, he was simply the odd man out.
I get why Westbrook played over Pickett in the playoffs last year. Pickett had zero playoff experience, and Westbrook’s defense and shotmaking were irreplaceable for Denver to steal the Clippers series.
But as I watch these NBA Finals, three things are unmistakably obvious:
1. Winning the turnover battle is monumental (loser of TO battle is 1-4 in these finals.)
2. To be playable, you have to be able to shoot.
3. Having a ton of young and cheap players is a must.
While Westbrook is semi-cheap, he’s old, turns the ball over way too much, and other teams thank the high heavens when a Denver possession ends in him shooting a three. Luckily, the Nuggets do have someone who meets the criteria. Guess who? Jalen Freaking Pickett!
The Nuggets need to give the bench reins to Pickett
Pickett’s 2024-2025 regular-season stats were pretty pedestrian. But Pickett is best with the ball in his hand, running an offense. It’s hard to do that when you are playing with a ball-dominant, future Hall of Famer as he did last year. And while Pickett didn’t consistently produce last season, when he did hit a certain threshold of minutes, he had a winning impact.
Here’s an interesting stat: Jalen Pickett played 25 minutes or more six times last season. In those games, he averaged 11 points, 5.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and only 1.1 turnovers. He also shot 12-27 on threes (44%), and the Nuggets went 4-2 in those games. The only two losses? The double overtime loss to Minnesota (you know, the one where Jokic dropped a 61-point triple-double and Westbrook sold the game) and a loss to San Antonio, where none of the starters played.
Is signing someone proven like Tyus Jones going to be a safer bet than Pickett? Of course. But without a major trade, Denver doesn’t have the money or flexibility to go plug every hole they have in Free Agency. They’ll have to hope that at least two of Pickett, Julian Strawther, DaRon Holmes, or Peyton Watson pan out. I think Strawther is capable of making the necessary jump next season. Watson still feels like a wildcard, and I have trouble trusting a rookie coming off an Achilles tear. My bet is on Strawther and Pickett, assuming he gets the opportunities to truly take the reins.
Is Jalen Pickett going to magically solve all of Denver’s problems? No. But I truly believe that he is more than capable of being part of the solution to Denver’s long-time bench woes.