Rotation 2022

[TunaFish]

Taking a shot at the rotation this post summer league with all the slots now accounted for:

C Jokic/ Jordan
PF AG/ Jeff Green
SF MPJ/ Nnaji
SG KCP / Brown
PG Murray/ Bones

The rest of the bench includes small forward Reed, point guard Ish Smith, big Cancar and the rookies shooting guard Braun, small forward Watson, power forward White (2-way) and point guard Gillespie(2-way).

By my account:

2 Centers
8 Forwards
3 Shooting guards
4 Point guards

[THE J0KER]

8-man all-healthy PO rotation
PG Murray(33) Hyland(10) Brown(5)
SG KCP(20) Hyland(20) Brown(8)
SF MPJ(25) Brown(15) KCP(8)
PF AG(30) Green(10) MPJ(8)
C Jokic(35) Green(13)

11-man all-healthy RS rotation
PG Murray(30) Hyland(6) Brown(6) Braun(6)
SG KCP(20) Hyland(20) Brown(5) Braun(3)
SF MPJ(25) Brown(15) KCP(5) Braun(3)
PF AG(30) Green(10) MPJ(5) Nnaji(3)
C Jokic(35) Jordan(8) Nnaji(5)

[Manolito]

I dont think Hyland is playing 30 minutes in PO (hopefully I am wrong) and I expect Nnaji to be part of the regular rotation during PO. Zero chances we see Braun as PG, his handling and playmaking abilities are terrible for a PG

[Richard Miller]

Agree, Ish and Gillespie will likely see more minutes at PG than Braun

[skywalker33]

I’d bet Gillespie spends most of his time in Grand Rapids getting experience and PT

[TunaFish]

Agree, Ish and Gillespie will likely see more minutes at PG than Braun

I second that observation. Braun at 6"7" played forward in college and although he has excellent handling skills, he will play shooting guard in the NBA. Brown at 6"4" played primarily at shooting guard in Brooklyn and should do the same in Denver.

Ish and Gillespie have always played the point and do to size/skill will play the point in Denver. Both will back up Murray and Bones.

Malone has said that Murray will be on a minute restriction at the start of the season and that means quality time for Bones.

[The Rebel]

my question is at backup SG and SF. To me the clear playoff rotation is

Murray 30 mpg/ Bones 18 mpg
KCP 28 mpg/ Brown 15 mpg/ Bones 5 MPG
Gordon 30 mpg/ Brown 18 mpg
MPJ 28 MPG/ Jeff Green 15 mpg/ NNaji 5 mpg
Jokic 33 mpg/ NNaji 15 mpg

I think the minutes shift around during the season, but I think Reed and Braun are going to compete for 4th SG/SF and Jordan will play some spot minutes.

[TunaFish]

Looking a the responses here, none of us including me picked Cancar for much of a bench role. All of us have either Jeff Green or others ahead in the power forward/ big rotation. I think Cancar is bit too slow for the small forward position so I still wouldn't consider him here.

After seeing some of his play in international competition that is ongoing, I am starting to wonder if the Nuggets might need to find some playing time for this Slovenian forward? His game is maturing and he is a smart veteran player with good touch. He understands defense positioning as well as anyone but speed in not his game. He has the BBIQ that you look for in an NBA player. Maybe it is time to consider him as more of an option than we do.

Also, I wonder if Jeff Green might nearing the age cliff. I still have nightmares of watching Millsap's and Alex English's decline.

[skywalker33]

Looking a the responses here, none of us including me picked Cancar for much of a bench role. All of us have either Jeff Green or others ahead in the power forward/ big rotation. I think Cancar is bit too slow for the small forward position so I still wouldn't consider him here.

After seeing some of his play in international competition that is ongoing, I am starting to wonder if the Nuggets might need to find some playing time for this Slovenian forward? His game is maturing and he is a smart veteran player with good touch. He understands defense positioning as well as anyone but speed in not his game. He has the BBIQ that you look for in an NBA player. Maybe it is time to consider him as more of an option than we do.

Also, I wonder if Jeff Green might nearing the age cliff. I still have nightmares of watching Millsap's and Alex English's decline.

Gotta agree that Cancar looks to be buried, but if Green is over-the-hill, and injuries (knock on wood) are part of the game, perhaps he'll get a shot at continuing his growth from the FIBA play.

As for Green, the worst case is he's a $4.5M trade chip as an expiring, best case is he's a veteran stabilizer for a young team.

[Coeur]

Looking a the responses here, none of us including me picked Cancar for much of a bench role. All of us have either Jeff Green or others ahead in the power forward/ big rotation. I think Cancar is bit too slow for the small forward position so I still wouldn't consider him here.

After seeing some of his play in international competition that is ongoing, I am starting to wonder if the Nuggets might need to find some playing time for this Slovenian forward? His game is maturing and he is a smart veteran player with good touch. He understands defense positioning as well as anyone but speed in not his game. He has the BBIQ that you look for in an NBA player. Maybe it is time to consider him as more of an option than we do.

Also, I wonder if Jeff Green might nearing the age cliff. I still have nightmares of watching Millsap's and Alex English's decline.

You know exactly what you’re getting from Jeff green. The smart move would be to give Cancar a shot in the rotation because there is so much possible value created if he plays well and maintains a role in the rotation. And if he doesn’t…. Then you plug Jeff green in and maybe a shortened season in the rotation lessens the possible fall of the cliff.

[ichigomonn]

This is the rotation I personally hope they go with:

C Jokic/ Nnaji
PF AG/ Jeff Green
SF MPJ/ Brown
SG KCP / Braun
PG Murray/ Bones

Might be a lot for Braun to take on that 10th-man spot but I'd rather see that than see DeAndre Jordan get any sort of regular rotation spot. Loved everything about the Nuggets' offseason EXCEPT the Jordan signing. Kinda also bummed that they gave way Morris but I think it had to be done to accomplish the KCP trade and also dumping Barton.

[skywalker33]

This is the rotation I personally hope they go with:

C Jokic/ Nnaji
PF AG/ Jeff Green
SF MPJ/ Brown
SG KCP / Braun
PG Murray/ Bones

Might be a lot for Braun to take on that 10th-man spot but I'd rather see that than see DeAndre Jordan get any sort of regular rotation spot. Loved everything about the Nuggets' offseason EXCEPT the Jordan signing. Kinda also bummed that they gave way Morris but I think it had to be done to accomplish the KCP trade and also dumping Barton.

First, Welcome to the board, hope you enjoy it !

Seems training camp will be starting soon enough to help examine the future lineups. Hopefully, Malone will not be so set in his ways that we can see the flexibility of this roster.

[ichigomonn]

This is the rotation I personally hope they go with:

C Jokic/ Nnaji
PF AG/ Jeff Green
SF MPJ/ Brown
SG KCP / Braun
PG Murray/ Bones

Might be a lot for Braun to take on that 10th-man spot but I'd rather see that than see DeAndre Jordan get any sort of regular rotation spot. Loved everything about the Nuggets' offseason EXCEPT the Jordan signing. Kinda also bummed that they gave way Morris but I think it had to be done to accomplish the KCP trade and also dumping Barton.

First, Welcome to the board, hope you enjoy it !

Seems training camp will be starting soon enough to help examine the future lineups. Hopefully, Malone will not be so set in his ways that we can see the flexibility of this roster.

Thanks for the warm welcome!

[TunaFish]

This is the rotation I personally hope they go with:

C Jokic/ Nnaji
PF AG/ Jeff Green
SF MPJ/ Brown
SG KCP / Braun
PG Murray/ Bones

Might be a lot for Braun to take on that 10th-man spot but I'd rather see that than see DeAndre Jordan get any sort of regular rotation spot. Loved everything about the Nuggets' offseason EXCEPT the Jordan signing. Kinda also bummed that they gave way Morris but I think it had to be done to accomplish the KCP trade and also dumping Barton.

First, Welcome to the board, hope you enjoy it !

Seems training camp will be starting soon enough to help examine the future lineups. Hopefully, Malone will not be so set in his ways that we can see the flexibility of this roster.

Thanks for the warm welcome!

Welcome from here too. There are some pretty astute posters on this board who have followed this team for a while. In fact, I think many on this board would agree with you about your proposed lineup. My only concern about Brown playing small forward is his size at 6'4. Not impossible but more likely IMHO that he plays at shooting guard.

We are all looking forward to preseason to see how they will address this. Also, look forward to seeing you post in the future.

[The Rebel]

First, Welcome to the board, hope you enjoy it !

Seems training camp will be starting soon enough to help examine the future lineups. Hopefully, Malone will not be so set in his ways that we can see the flexibility of this roster.

Thanks for the warm welcome!

Welcome from here too. There are some pretty astute posters on this board who have followed this team for a while. In fact, I think many on this board would agree with you about your proposed lineup. My only concern about Brown playing small forward is his size at 6'4. Not impossible but more likely IMHO that he plays at shooting guard.

We are all looking forward to preseason to see how they will address this. Also, look forward to seeing you post in the future.

Welcome to Ichigomonn as well.

Brown did start and play at SF a lot last year. He has a 6'9" standing reach and most backup SFs are undersized these days. If Braun does make the rotation than he and Brown will likely be playing together with Brown guarding the better offensive perimeter player and Braun taking second best to try to hide Bones a little.

[skywalker33]

At this point, Brown is the more accomplished defender but Braun has the size and is a strong defender himself (at least from what he showed in SL). That said, I could see these two interchangeable so I'd put Brown on whatever scorer is having the more prolific day. Also, if Braun is at the SG position, he could create a size mismatch but he'll need to prove he can score though.

[NuggetsWY]

At this point, Brown is the more accomplished defender but Braun has the size and is a strong defender himself (at least from what he showed in SL). That said, I could see these two interchangeable so I'd put Brown on whatever scorer is having the more prolific day. Also, if Braun is at the SG position, he could create a size mismatch but he'll need to prove he can score though.

Braun may work his way into the rotation but I doubt Malone uses him much early in the season and as Skwalker indicated, Brown is probably the better defender - maybe not as strong or athletic or whatever, but his experience and his defensive basketbal-IQ are solid.

Yeah, I'd love to see both of them available for the playoffs with Braun picking up enough experience this year to be a solid contributor in this year's playoffs.

[skywalker33]

Personally, I see Murray and MPJ getting about 22-27mpg over the first 20 games or so, while avoiding back-to-back games. This will also give Malone an excuse to experiment with players like Braun, Vlatko and Zeke.

[NuggetsWY]

I expect Malone will disagree with me; but my best guess on what he will do, assuming no new injuries:

Joker -- 35 mpg -- why not? He doesn't seem to mind and he seems totally capable and he is the two-time reigning MVP
Backup center -- see "Forwards"

Gordon & Porter start with Green & Brown getting the majority of the bench minutes -- Nnaji getting deep bench minutes

Murray & Caldwell-Pope starting with Brown & Hyland getting the majority of the bench minutes -- Smith getting some minutes too

That's eight players getting most of the minutes and we know Malone likes 9 but has used 10-11 quite often lately.

So who is #9?
Who is #10?

Nnaji -- has to be in there IMO
Braun ought to be considered, but I'm not sure Malone will use him early.

Last year Malone used 5 players more than 24 mpg. So he used lots of other players,
This might be the year coach gets his 9 man rotation.

I don't see Ish Smith getting a lot of minutes behind Hyland & Murray with all of the decent ball handlers the Nuggets have - Like Jokic.

[TunaFish]

I expect Malone will disagree with me; but my best guess on what he will do, assuming no new injuries:

Joker -- 35 mpg -- why not? He doesn't seem to mind and he seems totally capable and he is the two-time reigning MVP
Backup center -- see "Forwards"

Gordon & Porter start with Green & Brown getting the majority of the bench minutes -- Nnaji getting deep bench minutes

Murray & Caldwell-Pope starting with Brown & Hyland getting the majority of the bench minutes -- Smith getting some minutes too

That's eight players getting most of the minutes and we know Malone likes 9 but has used 10-11 quite often lately.

So who is #9?
Who is #10?

Nnaji -- has to be in there IMO
Braun ought to be considered, but I'm not sure Malone will use him early.

Last year Malone used 5 players more than 24 mpg. So he used lots of other players,
This might be the year coach gets his 9 man rotation.

I don't see Ish Smith getting a lot of minutes behind Hyland & Murray with all of the decent ball handlers the Nuggets have - Like Jokic.

I think you are right about Ish Smith. I see him more as an emergency backup point guard. However, as we all know, injuries do happen.

If Nnaji is healthy, they need to play him more. The question is where? I see him splitting time at both backup power forward and backing up MPJ at small forward. His shooting fits well as a big wing. On the other hand, if he has bulked up and improves his rebounding he could be in play at center.

I think we will see more of Jordan than some realize. The GM brought him in for a reason and despite how poorly he played for the Nets he played well for the 76er's. He is a strong, big body center and we have no one with that build backing up Jokic. Unless the Nuggets are going small ball at backup center, he will play.

With the number of veterans on this team, Malone is going to have to figure out how to get the rookies some minutes and in particular, Braun.