2025 Off-Season

[TunaFish]

Cam, Bruce and Jonas? Ok I love this offseason so far!

I'll join into that sentiment. Jonas fits a need, Bruce fits a need and Cam replaces MPJ (statistically the same).

[skywalker33]

Wow, seems I REALLY underestimated this FO/GM staff. Turning solid (bench) wood into a solid backup C alone is impressive. Then creating the ability to resign CB (hopefully) is like icing on the cake.

[skywalker33]

Another add in G Tim Hardaway Jr, while not Dame Lilliard not a bad pickup

[NuggetsWY]

Anyone notice the new assistant coach? JJ Barea -- an intelligent player and a great team-first guy. A career bench player. I love adding him.

[NuggetsWY]

Starting Lineup
Jokic -- Gordon -- Cam Johnson -- Braun -- Murray

Veteran Bench
Valanciunas -- Hardaway -- Bruce Brown

A very nice top-8!

Young players that need to develop -- and just might be rotation players by the All Star break
Holmes -- Nnaji -- Watson -- Tyson -- Strawther -- Pickett -- Tamar Bates (outside shot, but still ...)

Center + 2 PFs + 3 wings + PG (outside shot)
If just two of the top six of these young players can get 10-15 minutes per game by season's end, it will be great.

[skywalker33]

Starting Lineup
Jokic -- Gordon -- Cam Johnson -- Braun -- Murray

Veteran Bench
Valanciunas -- Hardaway -- Bruce Brown

A very nice top-8!

Young players that need to develop -- and just might be rotation players by the All Star break
Holmes -- Nnaji -- Watson -- Tyson -- Strawther -- Pickett -- Tamar Bates (outside shot, but still ...)

Center + 2 PFs + 3 wings + PG (outside shot)
If just two of the top six of these young players can get 10-15 minutes per game by season's end, it will be great.

Looks like a team built to win but we are STILL going to need to develop those young guns

[skywalker33]

Rumors abound that Val may want to go back to Europe, at least it’d open about $10M in cap space for his replacement. Gotta think Jokic would have talk with his good friend first.

[skywalker33]

Jared Dudley joining the coaching staff, Great News ! Thought of as a young and upcoming coach, adds strength and knowledge to this staff.

[NuggetsWY]

Jared Dudley joining the coaching staff, Great News ! Thought of as a young and upcoming coach, adds strength and knowledge to this staff.

As you said earlier (or something close to this) and I'll agree; "I underestimated our new front office".

I love this addition. Coach has grabbed two very nice assistants that compliment each other very well.

[BelgradeNugget]

To be honest the news of Dario Saric opting into his contract is what I hoped for. In today NBA trading assets are not just good players and picks, but expiring contract also, and Dario is $5.4M expiring contract now. If there is truth to rumors about european teams being interested in him it only means reciving team could buy out his contract for even less money.

This Dario Šarić saga turned out pretty good with Valanciunas trade, but it has chance to be even better. Me (and some other posters) in Trade and transaction forum proposed some variations of Valanciunas (on his way to terminate his NBA contract) for Kelly Olynyk trade and reactions were positive.

My prefered trade would be Val to Orlando for Goga, but we will see. It turns out Val is pretty valuable asset rn.

[Wallace_Wallace]

I would take a gamble on a guy like Jalen Smith. He’s never really had a shot at anything meaningful. He was stuck behind Ayton during the Suns’ run, and he was stuck behind Myles Turner during his Pacers’ run. Currently, in Chicago, he’s not exactly high on the depth charts behind Williams, Collin’s and Vuc. He’s a decent pick and pop guy and a career 60% TS, and he’s a neutral defender. While he won’t be a difference maker, he’s certainly worth a look at the backup PF/C position.

Nnaji for Smith works straight up.

The next two guys I always have high opinions on, and they could be acquired for literally anything as long as salaries matches. They could be crucial against some of the top players in the playoffs:
Matisse Thybulle
Josh Okogie

[skywalker33]

I would take a gamble on a guy like Jalen Smith. He’s never really had a shot at anything meaningful. He was stuck behind Ayton during the Suns’ run, and he was stuck behind Myles Turner during his Pacers’ run. Currently, in Chicago, he’s not exactly high on the depth charts behind Williams, Collin’s and Vuc. He’s a decent pick and pop guy and a career 60% TS, and he’s a neutral defender. While he won’t be a difference maker, he’s certainly worth a look at the backup PF/C position.

Nnaji for Smith works straight up.

The next two guys I always have high opinions on, and they could be acquired for literally anything as long as salaries matches. They could be crucial against some of the top players in the playoffs:
Matisse Thybulle
Josh Okogie

I like the suggestion as well as the thought process behind the identification of Smith. If Nnaji was traded for Smith, not only would it save the Nuggets around $3M off the Nnaji contract (as well as 1-yr), it would allow DaRon Holmes to focus on the PF position, where I think his potential lies best.

However, it appears the Nuggets are playing hardball with Val's agent, requesting he lives up to the contract he signed. Either way, it appears they'd like DaRon to backup Aaron Gordon.

[NuggetsWY]

To be honest the news of Dario Saric opting into his contract is what I hoped for. In today NBA trading assets are not just good players and picks, but expiring contract also, and Dario is $5.4M expiring contract now. If there is truth to rumors about european teams being interested in him it only means reciving team could buy out his contract for even less money.

This Dario Šarić saga turned out pretty good with Valanciunas trade, but it has chance to be even better. Me (and some other posters) in Trade and transaction forum proposed some variations of Valanciunas (on his way to terminate his NBA contract) for Kelly Olynyk trade and reactions were positive.

My prefered trade would be Val to Orlando for Goga, but we will see. It turns out Val is pretty valuable asset rn.

Sounds good to me! I'd really like the Olynyk deal. He brings a toughness that we could use. As a backup for Jokic, he'd be nice to have. But he could also play alongside Jokic -- especially when some defense is needed. In other words, he could also backup Gordon sometimes.

I would take a gamble on a guy like Jalen Smith. He’s never really had a shot at anything meaningful. He was stuck behind Ayton during the Suns’ run, and he was stuck behind Myles Turner during his Pacers’ run. Currently, in Chicago, he’s not exactly high on the depth charts behind Williams, Collin’s and Vuc. He’s a decent pick and pop guy and a career 60% TS, and he’s a neutral defender. While he won’t be a difference maker, he’s certainly worth a look at the backup PF/C position.

Nnaji for Smith works straight up.

The next two guys I always have high opinions on, and they could be acquired for literally anything as long as salaries matches. They could be crucial against some of the top players in the playoffs:
Matisse Thybulle
Josh Okogie

Goga or Smith or Thybulle or Okogie --but-- I like the Olynyk option best!

[Wallace_Wallace]

I would take a gamble on a guy like Jalen Smith. He’s never really had a shot at anything meaningful. He was stuck behind Ayton during the Suns’ run, and he was stuck behind Myles Turner during his Pacers’ run. Currently, in Chicago, he’s not exactly high on the depth charts behind Williams, Collin’s and Vuc. He’s a decent pick and pop guy and a career 60% TS, and he’s a neutral defender. While he won’t be a difference maker, he’s certainly worth a look at the backup PF/C position.

Nnaji for Smith works straight up.

The next two guys I always have high opinions on, and they could be acquired for literally anything as long as salaries matches. They could be crucial against some of the top players in the playoffs:
Matisse Thybulle
Josh Okogie

I like the suggestion as well as the thought process behind the identification of Smith. If Nnaji was traded for Smith, not only would it save the Nuggets around $3M off the Nnaji contract (as well as 1-yr), it would allow DaRon Holmes to focus on the PF position, where I think his potential lies best.

However, it appears the Nuggets are playing hardball with Val's agent, requesting he lives up to the contract he signed. Either way, it appears they'd like DaRon to backup Aaron Gordon.

I'm guessing Valenciunas and Panathinaikos are working a deal to come up the buyout amount for his contract; 10 million isn't a lot in the NBA, but it's a decent amount of money for any Euro team. However, but Denver doesn't have to listen any BS offer. Not sure if you guys are into European football, but PSG was hellbend not to let Kylian Mbappe go to Madrid and offered a ridiculous amount of money for him to stay. Ultimately, he did went to Real Madrid once his contract expired. My point is, even one of the biggest athletes (and one of the biggest clubs) in the world still have to HONOR a f'ing contract, let along some Jonas Valenciunas.

Also
Mbappe didn't tanked his last season with PSG. He showed up to work; though miserable, he still scored 44 goals in 48 appearance (that's elite). So some advise for Jonas -> Be a professional, show up and work. Maybe win a ring, then you can play in whatever league and chill at whatever beach he feels like.

[skywalker33]

I would take a gamble on a guy like Jalen Smith. He’s never really had a shot at anything meaningful. He was stuck behind Ayton during the Suns’ run, and he was stuck behind Myles Turner during his Pacers’ run. Currently, in Chicago, he’s not exactly high on the depth charts behind Williams, Collin’s and Vuc. He’s a decent pick and pop guy and a career 60% TS, and he’s a neutral defender. While he won’t be a difference maker, he’s certainly worth a look at the backup PF/C position.

Nnaji for Smith works straight up.

The next two guys I always have high opinions on, and they could be acquired for literally anything as long as salaries matches. They could be crucial against some of the top players in the playoffs:
Matisse Thybulle
Josh Okogie

I like the suggestion as well as the thought process behind the identification of Smith. If Nnaji was traded for Smith, not only would it save the Nuggets around $3M off the Nnaji contract (as well as 1-yr), it would allow DaRon Holmes to focus on the PF position, where I think his potential lies best.

However, it appears the Nuggets are playing hardball with Val's agent, requesting he lives up to the contract he signed. Either way, it appears they'd like DaRon to backup Aaron Gordon.

I'm guessing Valenciunas and Panathinaikos are working a deal to come up the buyout amount for his contract; 10 million isn't a lot in the NBA, but it's a decent amount of money for any Euro team. However, but Denver doesn't have to listen any BS offer. Not sure if you guys are into European football, but PSG was hellbend not to let Kylian Mbappe go to Madrid and offered a ridiculous amount of money for him to stay. Ultimately, he did went to Real Madrid once his contract expired. My point is, even one of the biggest athletes (and one of the biggest clubs) in the world still have to HONOR a f'ing contract, let along some Jonas Valenciunas.

Also
Mbappe didn't tanked his last season with PSG. He showed up to work; though miserable, he still scored 44 goals in 48 appearance (that's elite). So some advise for Jonas -> Be a professional, show up and work. Maybe win a ring, then you can play in whatever league and chill at whatever beach he feels like.

My thought is the Nuggets are likely to propose to JV he stays this year and then offers to decline the TO for next year. With the team they have put together, it feels like they have a strong shot at a Title run and they don't just want to squander another shot in Jokic's prime.

And regarding JV, he has always been a professional and showed up to play hard wherever he's played, can't see that changing. Given FIBA rules, I'd bet there's a 90% chance he'll play in Denver this year.

[MyTake_1]

Nuggets simply have to trade someone, and no one has value to bring back much except Joker, and he is a no-go.

What a stupid situation, we shall see how they manage. Paying repeater tax for the current roster is not smart.

Not correct as it turns out. Both MPJ and Saric have been traded.

I think our front office made fabulous deals, I never expected this.

As for Jonas Valanciunas, just the fact we were able to get out of Saric 2nd year is a win. I don't see JV moving a needle for Nuggets, if he decides to go to Greece we have plenty of money to sign good replacement. Horford (I can dream) would be ....... something.

[NuggetsWY]

Nuggets simply have to trade someone, and no one has value to bring back much except Joker, and he is a no-go.

What a stupid situation, we shall see how they manage. Paying repeater tax for the current roster is not smart.

Not correct as it turns out. Both MPJ and Saric have been traded.

I think our front office made fabulous deals, I never expected this.

As for Jonas Valanciunas, just the fact we were able to get out of Saric 2nd year is a win. I don't see JV moving a needle for Nuggets, if he decides to go to Greece we have plenty of money to sign good replacement. Horford (I can dream) would be ....... something.

We are better with Valanciunas than without IMO. There may have better options, but maybe noy much better.
Valanciunas can backup Jokic and Gordon.
Valanciunas can play with both of them.
He can help the bench be more efficient. He's certainly not going to be a major scorer, but he can score as well as rebound. He doesn't make Jokicish passes, but he can keep the ball moving.
Plus he's a good team player and our young players can learn from him (and Jokic and Gordon).

[skywalker33]

Going out on a limb here (ok, I read it on one of the local sites), guessing we're going to bring on another ball handler and close friend of Jokic's, introducing #22 of the future Nuggets, PG Vasilije Micić

[NuggetsWY]

Going out on a limb here (ok, I read it on one of the local sites), guessing we're going to bring on another ball handler and close friend of Jokic's, introducing #22 of the future Nuggets, PG Vasilije Micić

Hmm, I'll admit, I don't know much about him. I just took a look at some games from last year -- just clips. Seems like he'll fit on the Nuggets. Stats say half his shots are 3s so his FG% isn't great. IMO he plays like a SG that can play point. I like him for our bench. He's somewhat like Valanciunas in a good way: team player who can pass but not flashy -- just a solid player. He's not young, so we know what we are getting.

Front office is still impressing me. We don't need stars, we need solid players and that seems to be their target.

[TunaFish]

Going out on a limb here (ok, I read it on one of the local sites), guessing we're going to bring on another ball handler and close friend of Jokic's, introducing #22 of the future Nuggets, PG Vasilije Micić

I think Bruce Brown will be the backup point guard, just as he was during the championship season. Micic has underperformed so far and appears a tad bit slow. Brown looked better as a point in Denver.

There is a roster spot available, so anything is possible.