2019 / 2020 Record 27-55

 

Denver came into the season with quite a mixed bag of players that if healthy could have challenged for a playoff spot in the West. The likes of Myles Turner, Klay Thompson, Michael Porter Jr as their big 3, with a veteran supporting cast of Paul Millsap, Goran Dragic. Klay Thompson unfortunately went down with an ACL injury and was ruled out for the season. Denver was the unfortunate team that was hit by the injury stick so was forced to run 6-7 man line-ups at times, even needing a fill in player at one point to put a team on the floor. With these injury concerns their record of 27-55 was equal 3^rd worst in the league.

 

Season Highlight

Denvers fans didn’t have a lot to cheer for this season, the injury bug claimed their season early and it was mostly a lost season. Their highlight would have definitely been the MPJ show, the kid came out firing in his first season at the SF position, before one of Diggas best moves yet switching him to the PF position where MPJ absolutely exploded! Winning the NSL inaugural Rookie Of The Year Award.

 

Season Lowlight

Where to start? Denver unfortunately had a few. Klay Thompson going down before the season started. Injuries to majority of their roster leading to guys like MPJ and Turner to play 48 minutes a game most nights. All in all a nightmare situation for Nuggets fans.

 

 

Best Trade

This trade came at the end of the off-season but nevertheless it was fantastic! Not every day you add arguable the best player in the NBA for what some consider a very low price. An early first round pick and a late firs, a salary dump and a few unproven prospects.

Denver send: Nicolas Batum, Ben Mclemore, Josh Okogie, Coby White, 2020 1^st round Pick 3, 2020 1^st round Pick 27.

Denver Receive: Stephen Curry, 3 seconds spread across 21-23.

Denver has the splash bros.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worst trade

Denver send: Goran Dragic, Nemenja Bjeleca

Denver receive: Trevor Ariza, George Hill, Atlanta 2020 1^st round Pick 27, Sacramento 2^nd round Pick 57

While at the time it seemed like a decent move Bjeleca ended up having a career best season and shooting the lights out and Goran Dragic is a much better player than George Hill. Now this isn’t a terrible trade, however Denver didn’t trade all that often this season so this kind of falls here by default.

 

Other Trades

Denver send: Paul Millsap, Demare Carroll

Denver receive: Nicolas Batum, Tony Snell, Miami 2021 1^st round pick

Seems pretty even for both teams, Miami was intending to compete and Denver had put the season away in the books already and was looking toward future assets.

 

 

 

Denver send: Trevor Ariza, TPE worth 3.8m

Denver receive: Ben McLemore, Memphis 2022 second round pick.

Seems Denver played the 3^rd team to help another deal get through on this one, Though McLemore and a 2^nd is a nice addition.

 

Free Agency

Frank Mason – UFA, likely walks

JaKarr Sampson – UFA, likely walks

Tyrone Wallace – UFA, may bring back with little competition.

Justin Robinson - UFA, likely walks

Cameron Reynolds – Unsigned draft pick, likely signs.

 

Denver is in a good spot with there roster with it mostly filled out, the guys they have entering free agency aren’t guys you lose sleep over. Now with them competing, they just need to bring in a few minimums to fill out the roster.

 

Star:

Stephen Curry

A blockbuster swindle trade by the Nuggets sees them pair Klay Thompson with Stephen Curry. Steph was out injured a lot of the season only playing 20 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves in which in those 20 games averaged 30 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.8 steals on 45/44/100. One of the elite stars of the league set to have a massive season with Denver.

 

Goat

Michael Porter Jr

Just like in the NBA, the NSL MPJ blew the league away with his scoring versatility mixed with size and speed. Has been compared to the likes of Kevin Durant. Only slipped to the NBA nuggets due to an injury and came in to the league to prove a point. Has a bright future playing off Steph Curry, Klay Thompson in the NSL.

 

 

Draft Grades

Pick 34 – Immanuel Quickley

Pick 57 – Jayden Scrubb

C+ Grade

Denver traded away their first round pick for Steph Curry this season (who wouldn't). Seemed to take best available at the positions they had. I like Immanuel Quickley as a potential starter once Curry has moved on from the game.

 

Denvers Future

Denver managed to snag the impossible, land an MVP top 3 player for prospects and picks in Steph Curry, Denver has the pieces to immediately contend in Curry, Thompson locked into contracts on teams they’ll likely never walk away from. Pair that with the future of MPJ, Turner, Gary Trent Jr. Although the idea of seeing Klay and Curry together will need to wait another year with Klay suffering an achilles tear the future of this franchise looks extremely bright.

 

Projected line-up

 

Curry / Hill

Trent Jnr / Thompson*

Prince / Snell

Porter Jr / TBD

Turner / TBD