Last season, we all know how ugly the Nuggets’ depth was. They had to lean on Russell Westbrook and the starters for almost everything, as every other veteran proved to be unplayable. This led to an impossible situation for the young players trying to develop.
There was an unfair spotlight on guys like Peyton Watson, Julian Strawther, and Jalen Pickett thanks to deficiencies all over the roster. Realistically, those guys should have been learning their way through growing pains and trying to develop.
But instead, those guys were thrust into high-leverage positions, often out of their comfort zones, and there was very little margin for error. Understandably, they all struggled with consistency, which led to Michael Malone yanking around their roles and minutes.
By the time the playoffs rolled around, none of them really knew their standing, and it was hard for anyone to find a rhythm. The Nuggets basically trimmed the rotation down to the bones, and Malone played his starters into the ground until the group wore down and eventually fizzled out in round two against the Thunder.
Roles should be more consistent this year
This time around, things should be different. The Nuggets have a real bench and have brought in veterans like Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valanciunas to do a lot of the heavy lifting. But a Nuggets coach at summer league was quick to point out to Keith Smith of Spotrac, "We still like our younger guys too. The pressure is just off them a bit to have to be great every night.”
That means Watson doesn’t have to come in and play lockdown defense every second he’s on the court. It means Strawther won’t have to come in and immediately knock down threes. And it means Pickett won’t be forced to run the offense for long stretches.
There is a sort of safety net in place now, and the lineups should be mixed and matched so that these guys are on the floor with players who complement their skill sets and put them in positions to succeed.
Competition for minutes will be stiffer
However, the influx of talent also means there will be stiff competition for minutes. Most NBA teams don’t go more than 9-10 deep on a nightly basis. The three veterans mentioned above are likely to figure into the rotation, and coaches have already hinted that DaRon Holmes will be in the rotation from day one.
Along with the starters, that’s already nine players who are expecting minutes, and that’s not including any of Watson, Strawther, or Pickett. They are going to have to battle to earn time on the floor, but there will inevitably be opportunities. A lot of these guys are aging and past their primes.
They may start off the year getting heavy minutes, but if these young players make the most of this offseason, come back with chips on their shoulders, and continue to improve throughout the season, they may well be pushing other guys out of jobs by season’s end.