Nuggets Draft

LUBBOCK, TX - MARCH 3: Desmond Bane #1 of the TCU Horned Frogs shoots the ball during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on March 3, 2018 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated TCU 79-75. Texas Tech defeated TCU 79-75. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)

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Malik Beasley walks up on stage after getting drafted by the Denver Nuggets in the 2016 NBA Draft (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

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Paul Reed (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Three Players the Denver Nuggets Could Target With Their 1st-Round Pick

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 20: Bol Bol celebrates as he went 44th overall to the Miami Heat, who have agreed to trade the pick to the Denver Nuggets during the 2019 NBA Draft on June 20, 2019 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ashlee Espinal/NBAE via Getty Images)

Denver Nuggets Draft Day Trade Grades: Great Denver, Good for Bol, OK for Heat

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 20: Bol Bol poses for a portrait after being drafted by the Denver Nuggets at the 2019 NBA Draft on June 20, 2019 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Denver Nuggets got the best value in the 2019 NBA Draft: Bol Bol with the 44th pick

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MARCH 28: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at the KFC YUM! Center on March 28, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Denver Nuggets: 3 Small Forward trade options in the 2019 NBA Draft

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Is Nikola Jokic the Greatest 2nd Round Draft Pick in NBA History?

LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 24: Jarred Vanderbilt #2 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates against the Missouri Tigers at Rupp Arena on February 24, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Denver Nuggets NBA Draft: Second round review

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 21: Michael Porter Jr. shakes hands with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected number fourteen overall by the Denver Nuggets during the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Denver Nuggets: Five reasons they got the steal of the draft in Michael Porter Jr.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 17: Mark Tatum, NBA's deputy commissioner, announces the Denver Nuggets as the #7 pick during the 2016 NBA Draft Lottery at the New York Hilton in New York, New York. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Denver Nuggets guide to the 2018 off season

ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 08: Michael Porter Jr #13 of the Missouri Tigers watches the action against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second round of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 8, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Denver Nuggets: Two targets if Denver trades up in the draft

DURHAM, NC - JANUARY 13: Trevon Duval #1 of the Duke Blue Devils against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 13, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 89-71. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Denver Nuggets: Three second-round targets for the Nuggets in the 2018 Draft

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.

Nugg Love NBA Mock Draft 1.0: General manager edition

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 22: Kevin Knox #5 of the Kentucky Wildcats walks off the court after being defeated by the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kansas State defeated Kentucky 61-58. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Denver Nuggets NBA Draft Prospect Analysis: Kevin Knox

Mar 22, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Trey Lyles (41) reacts to a call during the first half against the New York Knicks at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Finding the good in Denver’s draft day

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Donovan Mitchell (Louisville) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number thirteen overall pick to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Draft grade for the Nuggets

Sep 28, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly answers questions during a press conference during the media day at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Denver was inches away from a blockbuster trade

Mar 18, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Monte Morris (11) celebrates during the first half of the game against the Purdue Boilermakers in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

Nuggets somewhat redeem themselves with Monte Morris pick

Mar 22, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Trey Lyles (41) reacts to a call during the first half against the New York Knicks at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Nuggets have questionable first round

Sep 28, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly answers questions during a press conference during the media day at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Nuggets NBA Draft Guide