The Denver Nuggets fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round. This is a result few expected for a team entering the series as the favorite and a legitimate Finals contender.
After winning Game 1, the Nuggets lost the next three and eventually lost in Game 6. This was a shock to many, as the Timberwolves were missing multiple key players throughout the series. Donte Divincenzo tore his Achilles early in Game 4, Anthony Edwards hyperextended his knee in Game 4 and missed the remainder of the series, and both Ayo Dosunmo and Kyle Anderson were out for Game 6.
Though the Nuggets were short-handed, with Aaron Gordon missing multiple games and Peyton Watson out for the series, it does not excuse the loss. As a team with championship aspirations, losing to a depleted roster in the first round calls for a major offseason retool.
What Will Happen With Jokic
After their Game 6 loss, Nikola Jokic went to his postgame press conference and expressed his desire to remain a Nugget for the rest of his career. He is eligible for a four-year $290 million contract extension this summer with the Nuggets.
As Jokic is one of the best players in the world, it is very unlikely the Nuggets would trade him. However, after Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, nothing is beyond the realm of possibility.
Reports have emerged saying that no one on the roster is safe except Jokic. The Nuggets want to continue building around him, even though he did have a bad series (for his standards) against the Timberwolves, averaging 25.8 points per game on 45/19/93 shooting splits.
The Head Coach Position
During the Timberwolves series, talks about David Adelman being removed after his first year as head coach escalated.
His performance during the series was criticized, as his game planning failed to adjust despite repeated failures. The Nuggets blew a 19-point lead in Game 2 while losing by double digits three times against a depleted opponent. The players are a major contributor to this, but their play reflects the coach.
Despite recent speculation, reports have stated that Adelman will remain the head coach of the Nuggets next season.
Shams Charania has reported that Adelman’s job is “safe,” which is not surprising given how highly Denver has valued him in recent years. A major factor in Michael Malone’s dismissal last season was the organization’s concern about losing Adelman to another team. The Nuggets have viewed Adelman as a key piece of their future for several seasons, making it unlikely they would move on after just one year.
The Core Three
As mentioned, no one besides Jokic is safe. This means Denver could trade Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. Many fans may find it difficult to accept, but the Nuggets may need to in order to win another championship.
Both players had a very underwhelming series. Murray did not play like his usual self, averaging 23.7 points per game on 36/26/98 shooting splits. Meanwhile, Gordon continued to deal with injuries, limiting his play.
One poor playoff series is likely not enough for Denver to seriously consider moving Murray, given his history of elevating in the postseason. However, this might not be the case for Gordon, as he has continued to deal with injuries for the past few postseasons. While Gordon remains a key piece of Denver’s core, his recurring injuries could force the front office to evaluate his continued fit.
The Nuggets Trade Block
Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson are the main names circulating in trade talks. Both players have the largest contracts on the team outside of the core three.
Braun has struggled since signing a 5-year, $125 million contract last summer.
During the first round, he averaged 8.3 points (42% FG, 43% 3PT, 74% FT), 3.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game over 31 minutes. This production does not reflect the amount the Nuggets are paying for. Freeing up his contract allows the Nuggets to continue building around Jokic, adding depth to the roster. The only question is whether other teams would want to trade for his contract.
Johnson also underperformed this postseason, shooting 31% from three. This was a substantial drop from his season average of 43%. As the Nuggets were the top three-point shooting team by percentage in the regular season, not having Johnson at his usual efficiency played a major role in the offense struggling. As a result, his inconsistency raises questions about his long-term role in Denver’s rotation.
A main driver for these trades is Peyton Watson’s free agency this offseason. Currently, the Nuggets do not have enough cap space to offer Watson a competitive deal. Trading either Johnson or Braun will allow them to do so. If the Nuggets believe Watson is critical to their future, a trade involving one of these players is likely.
After a shocking first-round exit, the Nuggets enter the offseason facing more questions than answers. With championship expectations still centered around Jokic, it is no longer a matter of if Denver makes moves, but how extreme they will be.
Leave a comment