Every roster move the Nuggets have made this offseason looks like a home run, but the thing that will actually determine much of the team’s success is the overhaul of the coaching staff. While Michael Malone was inarguably a good coach, his way had run its course in Denver, and between his stubborn, old-school approach and his toxic feud with Calvin Booth, a change was badly needed.
Now, in comes the young gun with the pedigree, David Adelman. He should immediately be more creative than Malone, experimenting on both ends, toying with different lineups, and managing the workloads of veterans while making sure to keep the young guys engaged.
These may sound like simple things, but Malone wasn’t doing them. Adelman gets the benefit of years of experience sitting next to Malone, and now gets to bring in his own fresh ideas to a team he should know as well as anyone.
It’s going to be very exciting to see the way the team’s approach is modernized. There’s a world where this already elite offense vaults into a very special tier. There are new possibilities for players who found themselves out of Malone’s rotation, and the hope of innovation for the proven starters.
Dudley addition was masterful
Beyond the Adelman hire, Denver made another excellent move by bringing in Jared Dudley to be an assistant coach. Dudley is known for defensive tactics and his ability to motivate as a former player.
He should be a perfect yin to Adelman’s yang, and the duo, along with the rest of the staff, really has the opportunity to do something special in the 2025-26 season. The pieces have been assembled, and with the roster that’s now in place, as long as the team stays healthy, there’s no reason they shouldn’t be able to win another title.
The front office has been incredible
While the coaching staff will be incredibly intriguing to watch, the front office is already stamped. Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace took over and promptly fixed almost every mess from the Calvin Booth era and beyond.
The team had gotten stale, and we kept hearing how there were simply no moves for the Nuggets to make, but that sentiment has been ripped to shreds. We’ve seen two free agent signings and two trades, and the team has tools to work with and a roster spot remaining.
Nothing in the NBA is guaranteed, but if this team fails to win it all this season, it certainly won’t be the fault of Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace.