What in the Hell Can the Nuggets Do?

[Scalabrine]

Nothing. Just try to be a contender. Jokic is 29. Can easily play 4-5 years around this level.

The problem is that this team is not a contender.

They have 8 players on their entire roster that are NBA level rotation players and 3 of them are borderline (Russ, Strawther, Watson). They needed to do a better job of getting bringing in some more rotation level talent on minimum contracts. Look at all the minimum that got signed this year:

Tyus Jones, Burks, Dinwiddie, Plumlee, Trent Jr., Payne, Morris, Javonte Green, Boston, any of those guys would be getting rotation minutes on this team, some of them would be starting. It's just crazy to me that they couldn't convince even one of those guys to come play an important role on a contender. I don't buy it. I think Booth was up his own ass and liked the guys he already had and it's blown up in his face. Jokic can't do it by himself. Murray isn't gonna take the next step that most expected, he's actually regressed! Porter has gotten better, but he's at best a 3rd or 4th guy and right now he's number 2 on this team.

[LeBronSpaghetti]

The only way their season can be saved is if Michael Malone can do three things:
1. Fix Jamal Murray
2. Fix the defense
3. Pull a rotation player out of his ass

Great coaches have the ability to do number 3. Pop did it. Spo does it all the time. Malone on the other hand is building a reputation of burying legit rotation players on his bench and watching them blossom as soon as they leave Denver. He needs to figure that **** out and fast.

The Nuggets still have to prove that they can do it multiple games, but they did all of that tonight. Watson and Strawther were great, even D'Andre Jordan was good. Murray played very well, especially on D. And the defense was excellent overall, delivering the munder.

They did, last night was probably the best overall team performance of the season in the sense that everyone contributed. I still would like to see them find one more rotation player. Realistically I think right now they have 8: the starters plus Russ, Strawther, and Watson. If only we had a legit backup big like Jay Huff!

[MrPainfulTruth]

The only way their season can be saved is if Michael Malone can do three things:
1. Fix Jamal Murray
2. Fix the defense
3. Pull a rotation player out of his ass

Great coaches have the ability to do number 3. Pop did it. Spo does it all the time. Malone on the other hand is building a reputation of burying legit rotation players on his bench and watching them blossom as soon as they leave Denver. He needs to figure that **** out and fast.

Please never compare Malone to Pop again.

[Ssj16]

The only way their season can be saved is if Michael Malone can do three things:
1. Fix Jamal Murray
2. Fix the defense
3. Pull a rotation player out of his ass

Great coaches have the ability to do number 3. Pop did it. Spo does it all the time. Malone on the other hand is building a reputation of burying legit rotation players on his bench and watching them blossom as soon as they leave Denver. He needs to figure that **** out and fast.

The Nuggets still have to prove that they can do it multiple games, but they did all of that tonight. Watson and Strawther were great, even D'Andre Jordan was good. Murray played very well, especially on D. And the defense was excellent overall, delivering the munder.

One criticism is that they were so careless with the ball. That needs to get tightened up. But otherwise as you mentioned, it was an impressive game.

[LeBronSpaghetti]

The only way their season can be saved is if Michael Malone can do three things:
1. Fix Jamal Murray
2. Fix the defense
3. Pull a rotation player out of his ass

Great coaches have the ability to do number 3. Pop did it. Spo does it all the time. Malone on the other hand is building a reputation of burying legit rotation players on his bench and watching them blossom as soon as they leave Denver. He needs to figure that **** out and fast.

Please never compare Malone to Pop again.

1. Don’t tell me what to do
2. Malone was the one blabbering on about becoming a dynasty, so I will compare him to coaches who orchestrated dynasties. In doing so he asked to be compared to the absolute best of the best so why would I hold back any criticism? He’s nowhere near those guys, but apparently that’s what he wants to be.

[Ssj16]

The only way their season can be saved is if Michael Malone can do three things:
1. Fix Jamal Murray
2. Fix the defense
3. Pull a rotation player out of his ass

Great coaches have the ability to do number 3. Pop did it. Spo does it all the time. Malone on the other hand is building a reputation of burying legit rotation players on his bench and watching them blossom as soon as they leave Denver. He needs to figure that **** out and fast.

Please never compare Malone to Pop again.

1. Don’t tell me what to do
2. Malone was the one blabbering on about becoming a dynasty, so I will compare him to coaches who orchestrated dynasties. In doing so he asked to be compared to the absolute best of the best so why would I hold back any criticism? He’s nowhere near those guys, but apparently that’s what he wants to be.

We saw flashes in Braun last year and it's paying dividends now. There's flashes in Strawthers and Watson. I hope Malone has an eye on developing these guys to be playoff ready. And as someone mentioned, if they can get a decent backup big, with Jokic, anything is possible.

[Sharkboy242]

Nuggets must trust the process and by doing so will bring Championship #2 to the Mile High City.

[Wolfgang630]

Paul Reed was waived. He might be a decent backup to Jokic

[Special_Puppy]

Paul Reed was waived. He might be a decent backup to Jokic

They to buy low on players like the Mavs did this summer

[Alatan]

They should throw everything they got to get Butler. If that fails they are a treademill team for the next couple of years unless Jokic gets tired of being irrelevant and demands out.

Winning one chip with Murray as a 2nd option and not much behind that was a miracle in itself. It was not bound to repeat even if other teams didnt get better. And there are quite a few teams that can still get even more stacked. Not to mention that LA, Miami or some other top tier free agent destination might fill out with FA stars in a single offseason.

[mg]

If they make the right trade (multiple team deal?) they could potentially land 3 rotation players for MPJ. I don't really see any other way to *significantly* improve their roster this season.

[LeBronSpaghetti]

Paul Reed was waived. He might be a decent backup to Jokic

Should definitely grab him if they can. Easy upgrade. Had his best game of his career last year against the Nuggets because of course Embiid was out.

[Alatan]

If they make the right trade (multiple team deal?) they could potentially land 3 rotation players for MPJ. I don't really see any other way to *significantly* improve their roster this season.

Doesnt matter. Jokic plus a bunch of roleplayers doesnt equal a championship unless everyone in their path suffers some really bad juju.
A slow build up would be fine if there was something to hope for in the coming seasons. But Denver squandered their assets so they cant really improve much apart for hoping to poach a star from some other team in distress.

And Butler is a perfect version of that scenario as few other teams might be interested in a 35 y.o. star on an expiring deal that is payed 50 a year and is known to raise hell if things start going weird. All that means that he might be relatively cheap to get so Denver has a chance.

Spacing be damned. Move Murray off ball and make Butler the ballhandler and it might just work while the defense would be worlds better. People might actually enjoy a 90s type offense as a fresh look.

All in all, Nuggets need to make a move or they are irrelevant.

[BelgradeNugget]

Everybody knows story about Jokic's +/- how Nuggets play with him and without him. But it is on average. I went through Nuggets lineups, all starters + Russ or Strawther or Watson are featured in different lineups with Jokic, that have + netrtg in their minutes.

Interesting thing is the same players WITH Jokic in different lineups have - netrtg depending of combinations. It is not like all of them are positive with Jokic regardless who are other players in lineups.

What is also interesting is there were 4 lineups used in 9 games for 66 minutes that were in + with Šarić at center and Jokić on bench.
Also there were 6 lineups used in 12 games for 58 minutes that were in + with Jordan at center and Jokić on bench. It is 10 different lineups in 21 games and 124 minutes in + without him. Not big sample size but some combinations are good enough.

All lineups (4) with Nnaji at center in 30 minutes were bad without Jokic. Nnaji shouldn't be used as backup C if there is any hope for him it is as PF with Jokic.

So it is not like any lineup with Jokic works and any lineup witouth him is disaster. It is on coaching staff to use what is working and find a way to make it work.

So to answer question what the hell can Nuggets do

1. Start playing with focus and effort (it looks they started doing this after Washington disaster)
2. Malone must figure out rotations (things are looking better lately)
3. Improve deep bench 9th, 10th players
4. Healthy Murray

[Blame Rasho]

When was the last time GM was fired in the middle of the season… I think that is what they can do.

[Snake3]

Pistons just waived Paul Reed.

If Cal wants to fix the bench problem, signing Reed is a step in the right direction. It won't fix everything, but it could help the depth. He's young, can defend, can play 5 or 4.

[Chuck Everett]

Pistons just waived Paul Reed.

If Cal wants to fix the bench problem, signing Reed is a step in the right direction. It won't fix everything, but it could help the depth. He's young, can defend, can play 5 or 4.

Paul Reed has been waived by two teams, but he's the answer to a coach who refuses to give backup big centers legit minutes? I don't think bringing B-Ball Paul in will do what people may think.

Malone wouldn't play Hartenstein or Huff, why would he play Reed?

[Snake3]

Pistons just waived Paul Reed.

If Cal wants to fix the bench problem, signing Reed is a step in the right direction. It won't fix everything, but it could help the depth. He's young, can defend, can play 5 or 4.

Paul Reed has been waived by two teams, but he's the answer to a coach who refuses to give backup big centers legit minutes? I don't think bringing B-Ball Paul in will do what people may think.

Malone wouldn't play Hartenstein or Huff, why would he play Reed?

Because the situation calls for it. He is already forced to play the young players, which he didn't want to do. Since Saric is out due to injury, Zeke is unplayable, DJ can only go for a few mins. Why not get Paul Reed? It's either him or RoCo who is still out there.

He ain't the savior tho. They need a couple more guys.

[JDR720]

2nd apron should be done away with, its primary effect has been kneecappping Denver and Milwaukee

Denver and the Bucks kneecapped themselves by having big contract players who aren't worth their pay. Murray and Dame. And Middleton is a bad contract and Denver paid Zeke Nnaji 8.8 million to not play too.

The 76ers just did the same thing when they signed PG13 to a huge contract. The NBA teams have to stop giving out huge contracts to old, past-prime stars. And guys like Jamal who has never even made an All-Star team.

[Lala870]

Nuggets must trust the process and by doing so will bring Championship #2 to the Mile High City.

This will be the Nuggets again come playoff time against a team like OKC if MPJ doesnt start playing like a max player. This team only goes as far as this dude plays.

Does this process you mention involve a trade?

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