The Nuggets have had an incredible offseason and rightfully enter the new year as one of the favorites to win a title, but the team still has one glaring hole: backup point guard. They brought in several strong wing players and a legitimate backup center, but Russell Westbrook hasn’t been re-signed, and the team hasn’t really replaced him.
ESPN recently ran an article with every team’s biggest roster hole and sure enough, they had it as backup point guard for Denver. As of now, the only true point guard on the roster behind Jamal Murray is Jalen Pickett.
Pickett has had some nice moments in the league, but he hasn’t proven that he deserves an every-night spot in the rotation, especially on a team that will be vying for a title. Beyond Pickett, they have guys who can fill the role in a pinch, like Bruce Brown.
That can work for stretches and possessions here and there, and may become an option in the playoffs, but it doesn’t seem feasible on a nightly basis over the course of an 82-game season.
Nuggets running out of veteran options
It may not seem like a weakness that will sink this team, but it’s still a concern, and I think Nuggets fans would feel a lot better if the team added a true, proven backup point guard. Unfortunately, that may be easier said than done.
The market is drying up quickly, and with Malcolm Brogdon signing with the Knicks the other day, there aren’t great options. Russell Westbrook is still a free agent, but it doesn’t seem like that reunion will be happening. Ben Simmons is also available, but it seems he’s more likely to retire than get signed.
At this point, it may be tough to stomach, but the best option is probably to head into training camp with the current roster and see how things go. Denver still has a roster spot open, and there are some benefits to starting the season that way.
For one, they’ll have a great chance to add any player that gets waived or bought out. If the Nuggets are able to practice patience, there’s a chance the solution to their problem will fall right into their lap. But if not, they’ve created solid flexibility to pull off a trade.
They don’t need to add a star, but if the team can identify a solid backup point guard on a team that’s not contending, they could and should get it done. It’s not something they necessarily need to got out and do today, but it is something that should be on their radar, and needs to be addressed eventually.