Denver's weaknesses and how to address them in the off-season

[youngthegiant]

1.) We need more vocal players. Most of our guys are very quiet and Richard Jefferson often references this on his podcast. Denver needs to find more vocal guys to lead and get others to open up on the floor. A team that is quiet is often taken advantage of, and when teams get physical, they often lose leads and games. Acquire someone like Marcus Smart in Free Agency, tough player who is known for having good leadership skills. Denver also needs a pg, so this alleviates two problems with one move.

2.) We need a better coach. Under 3 years of Malone, he has failed to give Denver an identity. Each night feels like we get a completely different team. The defense is terrible and the offense is not being utilized to its fullest extent. We've seen that having a jokic-ball offense can give Denver a top 3 offense. Denver has to harness that offense while maintaining a solid defense(at least top 10) Denver is nowhere near that. It's time find a new coach, being content with a mediocre one is how you get stuck. Denver should have made the playoffs two years in a row, but instead they have come up empty with nothing to show for it. I have no idea who Denver should hire, there isn't an elite coach available which makes this decision very important for the front office.

3.) Time to clear up the logjam. Faried, Arthur, Lyles, Juancho, Lydon, Millsap, Plumlee(plays pf minutes), Chandler. That's 8 players that get minutes at pf on the roster. It's ridiculous that Denver traded for one and drafted one while also signing one in Free Agency. Poor construction of the roster and getting pieces that don't fit with Jokic. Move Faried, Arthur, Lyles(get value before he becomes expensive). Give Juancho a chance to get some pf minutes and opening up an opportunity for Lydon down the road. Denver will also likely draft a 3/4 who can slide and play minutes there if needed.

Those are 3 of my glaring weakness that need to addressed. I'd love to hear your opinions on finding solutions for these problems and discussing other weakness that have not been mentioned.

[skywalker33]

1.) We need more vocal players. Most of our guys are very quiet and Richard Jefferson often references this on his podcast. Denver needs to find more vocal guys to lead and get others to open up on the floor. A team that is quiet is often taken advantage of, and when teams get physical, they often lose leads and games. Acquire someone like Marcus Smart in Free Agency, tough player who is known for having good leadership skills. Denver also needs a pg, so this alleviates two problems with one move.

2.) We need a better coach. Under 3 years of Malone, he has failed to give Denver an identity. Each night feels like we get a completely different team. The defense is terrible and the offense is not being utilized to its fullest extent. We've seen that having a jokic-ball offense can give Denver a top 3 offense. Denver has to harness that offense while maintaining a solid defense(at least top 10) Denver is nowhere near that. It's time find a new coach, being content with a mediocre one is how you get stuck. Denver should have made the playoffs two years in a row, but instead they have come up empty with nothing to show for it. I have no idea who Denver should hire, there isn't an elite coach available which makes this decision very important for the front office.

3.) Time to clear up the logjam. Faried, Arthur, Lyles, Juancho, Lydon, Millsap, Plumlee(plays pf minutes), Chandler. That's 8 players that get minutes at pf on the roster. It's ridiculous that Denver traded for one and drafted one while also signing one in Free Agency. Poor construction of the roster and getting pieces that don't fit with Jokic. Move Faried, Arthur, Lyles(get value before he becomes expensive). Give Juancho a chance to get some pf minutes and opening up an opportunity for Lydon down the road. Denver will also likely draft a 3/4 who can slide and play minutes there if needed.

Those are 3 of my glaring weakness that need to addressed. I'd love to hear your opinions on finding solutions for these problems and discussing other weakness that have not been mentioned.

1) We do need more vocal leaders, but Smart isn't coming to Denver, we just don't have any cap space/money to sign him

2) We all feel the desire to replace Malone, all except the FO who makes those decisions. Betting he'll be here one more season

3) Yes there is a logjam at PF but trading Arthur and Faried isn't as easy as saying we just need to do it, it takes a partner willing to take them on and the FO doesn't seem to want to add any assets to do that. And as we've spoken before, Juancho needs to earn the PF spot, not just be given it because he's one of your favorite players And we still have another year of Millsap anyway.

Great ideas with no realistic form of execution.......

[NuggetsWY]

Agree with both of the previous posts - at least for the most part.

Our weaknesses? I'd have said:

#1 - A defensive assistant coach that is actually listened to.

#2 - Hustle on offense and on defense. Dump any player that doesn't hustle.

#3 - SF - 3nD with the emphasis on "D" - two of them - Free Agents? One or two might work. Trade? There are some that are probably going to be available but we might have to slightly overpay. But why accumulate assets if we aren't willing to do a slight overpay to get the right piece to finish our core? Draft? Clearly we can always do BPA but adding another young SF to whatever else we have would not be wrong. Many teams play SFs at PF (like Chandler) so having an extra SF is a good idea.

#4 - More time to develop and I do believe some of our young players will become more vocal as leaders, perhaps not what we want, but better and maybe adequate.

[youngthegiant]

Do you guys think Chandler opts out. I personally do believe he will, seems like he wants a change of scenery. Has played well enough that I think he will get an mle type offer long term.

[NuggetsWY]

Do you guys think Chandler opts out. I personally do believe he will, seems like he wants a change of scenery. Has played well enough that I think he will get an mle type offer long term.

His salary for next year is $13m. Mid-level will be around $8m if I understand correctly. If he gets 2-3 years at $8m, he might like the security.

At least with Denver he gets PT, so he might stay even if unhappy. But I expect him to opt-out. He wasn't happy last year and this year he has been disengaged more often than not. I don't think he wants to be here.

[skywalker33]

Do you guys think Chandler opts out. I personally do believe he will, seems like he wants a change of scenery. Has played well enough that I think he will get an mle type offer long term.

With you on this one YTG, I believe Chandler doesn't want to be here with the youth movement going on. I see him looking for his next/last contract, something along the line of a 4yr $33M with the last year being an option year. Personnally I hoping he opts outs but think he'd be studip to do so

[Mickey8]

This team needs one or two extra perimeter defenders , point guard who can facilitate when Jokic is not on the floor , and the coach who will embrace Jokic based offense , its working when Denver is running it and this team can win games with that style of basketball, maybe hire Finch as a head coach .

[The Rebel]

Fact is that Malone is a major problem, but he is far from the only problem, the next biggest problem is our bench, than the complete lack of toughness on the team.

This team needs toughness, on and off the court. The front office has to quit worrying about kissing everybody's asses, and we need a tough guy on the court preferably a SF to replace Chandler who needs to be gone whether he opts out or not.

IF you cannot convince Paul George to join the team, than to replace Chandler I would actually like to see them go after Mbah a Moute, a good 3 and d SF that is not going to cost a fortune. Between him, bringing back Craig, and a few minutes from Hernangomez you should have a viable rotation at SF for what we need.

This team needs a KMart, a defensive leader that is going to get on the guys in the lockerroom and run the defense but he has to be able to at least hold his own on offense. Guys like Smart and Roberson are not the guys I would look at, I am talking a true defensive quarterback, and you have to pay whatever it takes outside of the 3 young guys. Millsap was supposed to be that guy, but so far he does not seem to be the right fit. This may be a guy you have to trade for this year.

a backup PG would be nice, someone like Mudiay should have been would actually be perfect. We need a pass 1st guy that can get in the lane and distribute the ball, while being a good defender. You can often find good enough backup PGs for MLE type money, so if you can clear salary than you should be able to get one. I would even accept a guy like Rajon Rondo as this guy.

a cheaper backup Center who can block shots and shoot a little should be on the list as well. I would even accept a trade for a guy like Tyson Chandler and then drafting a project 3rd center in the 2nd round this year.


Of course we need a different coach, preferably one that has an idea of how to build a system around his team's talents.

I would work with the idea that Murray/Harris/Jokic are untouchable (of course opting out and resigning Jokic to a max).

Beasley/ Juancho/ and Morris are likely worth more to me than others.

I would put the expiring contracts in FAried/ Chandler/ Arthur/ as filler.

the assets available as Lyles/ this years 1st round pick/ and Lydon

Millsap would also be available in the right deal.

[Zaccaibone]

^ How about Zhou Qi from the Houston.

[NuggetsWY]

^ How about Zhou Qi from the Houston.

What role would he fill? Sure, we probably need a third center just in case of injury, but I don't see how he fixes any of our major problems.

[skywalker33]

^ How about Zhou Qi from the Houston.

What role would he fill? Sure, we probably need a third center just in case of injury, but I don't see how he fixes any of our major problems.

Shotblocker/rim protector ??

[NuggetsWY]

^ How about Zhou Qi from the Houston.

What role would he fill? Sure, we probably need a third center just in case of injury, but I don't see how he fixes any of our major problems.

Shotblocker/rim protector ??

From the bench? Can you really see Malone using him at all? Even Houston isn't using him hardly at all and our coach doesn't like to use young players even less than their coach.

[The Rebel]

^ How about Zhou Qi from the Houston.

What role would he fill? Sure, we probably need a third center just in case of injury, but I don't see how he fixes any of our major problems.

Shotblocker/rim protector ??

We need someone much more proven and game ready than Zhuo Qi, the guy is struggling especially on offense right now, and is no better than making a late 2nd round pick our only backup Center.

[skywalker33]

Don’t think Qi has even made it to the HOU G-league yet has he ?

[The Rebel]

One thing I will say is that this team has been fighting through other teams playing physical with them the last few games.

[skywalker33]

Given that we really won't be any kind of free agent shoppers, improving this team will have to come from within and perhaps the draft. I don't have a great deal of faith in the trade market either but TC does his proverbial blind squirrel imitation occasionally, so we'll see.

I do feel this season has shown growth other teams haven't had. MIN has show a better record but more by the Jimmy Butler acquisition than growth of their team youth. The Nuggets are being carried into this playoff run by a guys 23 and younger . they're learning by trial, a good teacher.

[The Rebel]

Am I the only one that has watched these last few games and thought that Craig may be the answer we need at starting SF next year? He is a good defender that works hard, and while his shot is streaky, he moves well off the ball, and is about as likely to fit what we need long term from SF. I mean you can draft a SF and let that guy compete with Hernangomez and Beasley for minutes at backup SF.

I would rather spend the limited assets to open room to acquire either an overpaid 2 year long backup pg contract or mle type of guy, and downgrade on Plumlee's pay for this year.

If we could walk away with a better coach for this roster, Craig, Hernangomez, and a draft pick competing for SF minutes, a guy like Koufos as our backup Center, and a guy like Hill to be backup PG playing 25 mpg, with Morris brought back to compete for backup PG minutes and a 2nd round pick used to take a project type Center.

A lineup like
Murray/ Hill/ Morris
Harris/ Beasley/
Craig/ Hernangomez/ Rookie
Millsap/ Lyles/ Arthur
Jokic/ Koufos/ Rookie

would be an upgrade overall from this year, and will fit around Jokic/Murray/ Harris much better than it is currently and a significantly lower cost. It would mean that Chandler would have to opt out, and you would have to convince Cleveland to take back Plumlee using either Faried or arthur's expiring deals as well as Lydon or future picks, but it could work.

[NuggetsWY]

I like your thinking Rebel but see no way our front office can work that many roster changes. I think we'll end up with something more like:

Jokic - Plumlee
Millsap - Lyles - Faried - Arthur - Lydon
Craig - Hernangomez
Harris - Beasley
Murray - Morris

Barton walking
Chandler takes his option
Jefferson & D.Harris are not renewed

1st round pick - maybe a veteran mid-level or veteran exception
Outside shot at a trade

I like the above team even though it looks like they'll keep Malone.

Clearly we could use at least one more guard (preferably a PG) and also a SF. It would also make sense to get a backup-center prospect. But with so many PFs, we'll clearly be short at other positions. So injuries at any other positions will leave us vulnerable --- again!

[MidMountain]

I like your thinking Rebel but see no way our front office can work that many roster changes. I think we'll end up with something more like:

Jokic - Plumlee
Millsap - Lyles - Faried - Arthur - Lydon
Craig - Hernangomez
Harris - Beasley
Murray - Morris

Barton walking
Chandler takes his option
Jefferson & D.Harris are not renewed

1st round pick - maybe a veteran mid-level or veteran exception
Outside shot at a trade

I like the above team even though it looks like they'll keep Malone.

Clearly we could use at least one more guard (preferably a PG) and also a SF. It would also make sense to get a backup-center prospect. But with so many PFs, we'll clearly be short at other positions. So injuries at any other positions will leave us vulnerable --- again!

This seems very likely if Chandler opts out and Jokic is maxed since we’ll be just under the luxury tax. although D.Harris has struggled to fit in, I think he has fit in better in the last few games. I’d like him back for a small deal.

If we end up in the lottery, we should draft a young SF. If we make the playoffs, we should attach the pick to dump Faried. We’ll need to dump his whole salary if Chandler opts in. If Chandler leaves and we dump Faried, we could bring on a MLE contract. I think Tyreke Evans would be a great fit to replace Barton.



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[Mac1958]

1. Yeah, I don't like moving coaches too often, and I like Malone, but I think it's time to go in a different direction
2. A nice, smart, long, athletic, 3-and-D starting small forward
3. A pass-first backup point guard who can defend
4. Clear the PF logjam and find the cap space to get the above
5. I love Harris, and I love Murray, but there just isn't enough play-making skills there