For the last few years, the common trope has been that the Nuggets were a top-tier contender as long as they had everyone healthy. They appeared to have a good chance to repeat in 2024, but they wore down in round two and lost in a tough seven-game series to the Timberwolves. Disappointing but excusable.
Then, they went toe-to-toe with the Thunder for seven games in round two last year, but injuries caught up to them and they were sent home early again.
And now this year, the team has crashed out in six games to the Wolves again in round one, after their 110-98 loss on Thursday night. If you’re keeping track at home, they’re moving in the wrong direction. You can make whatever excuses you want this time around. Some may be valid. Some may not.Â
The fact of the matter is, the championship window for this core is closed.
Nuggets several rungs below class of the West
It’s impossible to keep selling the illusion that the Nuggets just need to be healthy and they can win it all. They’re not in the same stratosphere as the Thunder and Spurs, and those teams are only going to get better.Â
Based on this series, it’s hard to even argue that Denver is in the same class as the Wolves, and who knows about the Lakers and Rockets. This team is just a shell of what it was when they won the title in 2023, and there’s no way things are going to swing in the other direction now.
Jamal Murray hasn’t been that elite playoff riser since the Finals run, and was badly outplayed by Jaden McDaniels in this series. Aaron Gordon sadly cannot be relied on anymore. With a few juggernaut teams still transcending in the West, Murray and AG are no longer good enough to be your second and third stars. All three of those two and Jokic will be in their 30s next season, and the odds of this working out are extremely thin.
This team looked old, slow, and unathletic. Even without Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, and Ayo Dosunmu, the Wolves looked fresher and hungrier as they took it to Denver and ultimately, ran them off the floor for the fourth time in five games.
Nuggets' future outlook is grim
And to make matters worse, there is no secret weapon coming to save the Nuggets in the future. The roster is already right up against the second apron for next season, and that’s without even factoring in potential new deals for Peyton Watson, Spencer Jones, and Tim Hardaway Jr.
The Christian Braun 5-year, $125 million extension looks like an abject disaster, and it hasn’t even kicked in yet. They’ve mortgaged just about all of their tradeable, future draft capital. And they don’t have any prospects that are likely to move the needle on the trade market either.
A long offseason is ahead in Denver, and difficult conversations need to be had. But the truth is that Jokic is still in his prime, but that’s not going to last long. He can still lead them to another title, but he needs more help. Just about everything is now on the table this summer.
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