The Denver Nuggets held their end-of-year press conference for front office executives to answer questions about the team's early playoff exit, the season, and the upcoming offseason plans. And it's the offseason plans ahead that caught the ear of Nuggets fans, as they heard that Josh Kroenke, team president, said any option was on the table. That includes spending money and going over the second apron tax to do it. At least, that's "any option," right?
Kroenke did follow up, saying "everything's on the table," except trading Nikola Jokic, with a quip about running it back in a "different variation", maybe meaning he's trying to stay under the second apron tax. But even then, spending into the first apron tax and being well past the luxury tax threshold is a statement that should assure fans the Nuggets won't be pressing the big red button and ending the core team as we know it. At least not for now.
Kroenke pointed to injuries as a big question mark
Kroenke said he really liked the team and what the Nuggets had done despite all of the injuries, and he acknowledged the lack of time to truly gel and be healthy together. And in doing so, he pointed out that he and his father, Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke, have a good track record of success with the teams they own. He isn't wrong.
He was a part of the team as president when the Nuggets selected Nikola Jokic, and they did build a title in Denver. Nuggets fans just haven't seen the signal to spend this year, or in years past. The Nuggets let former General Manager Tim Connelly go over finances at the end of the 2021-22 season, and he's the one who built the Timberwolves, the team that has the Nuggets in this early exit mess. And this year, they ducked the luxury tax instead of adding at the trade deadline.
The Nuggets offered ideas for what they're looking to fix
Still, it's refreshing to hear that the Nuggets are potentially going to spend to win. Of course, not everyone is coming back. And that means the Nuggets will have holes to fill, and they can address needs for next season.
The Nuggets front office, led by Kroenke, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Ben Tenzer, Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Jonathan Wallace, and head coach David Adelman, identified ball handling and athleticism as areas the Nuggets lacked and will look to shore up this coming offseason.
Specifically, Adelman said the Nuggets need more help bringing the ball up the floor, and that's why we saw Tyus Jones in the final two games of the Timberwolves series. The Nuggets needed the ballhandling against the Timberwolves' pesky defense.
At least it sounds like the Nuggets will be spending a bit to try and find those pieces. Kroenke could have easily said the Nuggets were going to cut salary and rebuild, but he didn't. He signaled the Nuggets are still going for it as long as Jokic's championship window is still open. Now, Nuggets fans need to see the follow-through.
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