There will be no offseason filled with celebration and joy for the Denver Nuggets. After capturing their first title in franchise history last year, the Nuggets' quest for another championship was ended by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals. This was a disappointing loss for the Nuggets, one that could lead to some roster changes in the offseason.
At the same time, this is still a championship-worthy organization that has maintained the same core group that won the 2023 NBA Finals. While there have been early discussions about whether the Nuggets should look to upgrade their roster by making an offseason trade or letting one of their main players outside of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray go, this does not appear to be the course of action they will take. Instead, general manager Calvin Booth is fixated on his players, whom everyone is overlooking due to their inexperience.
“In my view, from where we started at a couple of years ago, we changed over most of our roster. We had to get bigger. We had to get more skilled,” Booth told reporters in his end of season press conference alongside head coach Michael Malone and team governor Josh Kroenke on Thursday. “The first draft was a lot of defense. Last year's draft was a lot of shooting. Obviously, those guys are rookies and oftentimes not ready to play. Julian Strawther got to play some this year. He didn't shoot the ball particularly well, but I think he's going to be a great shooter.
“I think, more than anything, they need more seasoning. They need to get in the gym. They need to play Summer League. They need to get stronger.”
Nuggets to prioritize youth over significant roster change
The 2023 rookie class for the Nuggets featured first-round pick Julian Strawther and two second-round picks in Hunter Tyson and Jalen Pickett. Strawther saw the most time on the court, playing an average of just over 10 minutes per game in a total of 50 games. Pickett was only featured in 27 games, and Tyson played in 18 games.
Despite their lack of minutes and playing time during their rookie season, these are the three players the Nuggets believe can help elevate their roster. While there is always the possibility of some sort of major offseason move, like letting Kentavious Caldwell-Pope walk in free agency or trading Michael Porter Jr., neither of these scenarios appear to be likely for Denver.
The Nuggets have always been a team that looks to build from within, and they continue to operate with the belief that they will receive production from their 2023 draftees.
“Obviously, maybe in our top seven, we can use a little bit more talent. Maybe there is a way to upgrade one or two positions and get a guy that is a more accomplished NBA player for whatever slot they're taking,” Booth continued. “But I don't see anything that's like crazy out of sorts for our roster.”
Malone then emphasized that he doesn't want Porter to put the series loss solely on him. Porter struggled against the Timberwolves, averaging just 10.7 points per game while shooting 32.5 percent from three-point range, which has led to rumors about whether the Nuggets would look to trade him. Ultimately, Malone made it clear that Porter is a huge part of the team's overall success and that they would not have defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs without him.
The fact of the matter pertaining to the Nuggets right now is that their early exit from the postseason doesn't impact their chances of contending for a championship heading into the 2024-25 season. As long as Jokic and Murray remain on this roster, as well as Porter, Caldwell-Pope, and Aaron Gordon, the Nuggets will be viewed as one of the best teams in the league. The main problem with this team is that they didn't address the absences of Jeff Green and Bruce Brown, two players who were instrumental in their 2023 championship run.
With a full offseason to think about their roster and make adjustments, the Nuggets will turn their attention to developing Strawther, Pickett, and Tyson, three youthful players that could just be the key to Denver once again finding championship success.
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