Okay you all were right. The team as currently constructed is a low level playoff team at best. Certain folks on this site of a certain armchair variety have espoused many different trades, free agent moves, and acquisitions. I am not here to do that.

Today we will look at the Nuggets like a GM. That means, no making rash decisions, no blowing it up (a foolhardy and extremely risky endeavor), and most certainly no rosterbation trades (keep it in your collective pants people)!

First things first, we need to identify a core as a GM on this middling team. This is easy (though I have no doubt some of you will disagree). Bottom line: We build around Ty Lawson and Ken Faried. Why you ask? Ty Lawson is unarguably a top ten PG in a STACKED PG league. He assists at a top five rate. He's relatively young. He is on a good contract. He can shoulder minutes load (though he is being taxed this season). Finally, he has unique talents and room to grow. Namely his assists are crafty and smart and his speed will continue to differentiate him from other point guards for the next 2-5 years. Oh, did I mention he's the best player on our roster? Yeah, smart GMs do not simply trade away or let these types go.

Ken Faried. Amazing how quick you all hate, then love (post FIBA), and now summarily hate our most promising player. He rebounds at an elite level (particularly offensively). He is fast, not laterally but certainly north and south. He is among the more athletic players in the entire league. Finally, he cares. Faried cares about his role on the team. He desperately strives to be better and earn more playing time. His defense is suspect but, again, you don't trade or let go of these types of talent when they are young, on a favorable contract, and not even in their prime.

Here is where we will all differ (if we haven't already). You have to keep Chandler and Mozgov. They have played together almost their entire professional lives. Chandler is entering/in his prime, on an extremely reasonable contract, can guard 3 positions, rebounds, shoots spot up, and (maybe most important of all) is a glue guy. He doesn't need touches, playing time, recognition, etc. He puts in work and fits into what any coach could feasibly need him to do.

Mozgov is on SUCH a good contract. I used to be so unimpressed by him but again he's young, agile for his size, is willing to bang and play D, has a developing offensive repertoire, and has oodles of chemistry with some on our roster. I am by no means saying that WC and Mozzy should be our starters going forward but they may be able to fill that role and certainly belong in our core going forward.

This last one I'm pretty sure no one will like. We need to keep AAA. Despite having a piss poor year considering what we expected of him, AAA is a keeper. Reason number one: Good contract. This is important as AAA fills so many needs on this team (when he is playing to his potential). Think about it this way. You've got a mature, cerebral gym rat. Does not care about PT, limelight, touches, etc. He can D up the best SGs in the league (I know he has been lackluster in this area this year). He can now create his own shot, shoot the three well, and plays within the team. At his age he is entering the prime of his career and it would be foolish to trade him or let him walk for anything less than equal value.

Obviously Harris, Nurkic (still not sky high on him like everyone here seems to be, I swear you all just like white guys lol), and Green should be kept to develop behind our core. The rest (JJ, Mcgee, Nate, Darth, Gee, Foye, and Gallo) should NOT be part of any plan moving forward. Quickly going through why we have JJ (inferior Faried, minus on D), Mcgee (Don't know if he can ever play consistently again, not worth resigning), Nate (Undersized chucker at a below avg clip, minus on D), Darth (actually would keep at right price but feel he is lacking at rebounding and inside offense), Gee (decent 12th man, dime a dozen player, not too important long term), Foye (love him but Harris deserves his grooming, weak on D).

Which brings us to Gallo. I will be in the extreme minority here (possible blacklisted from the site for blasphemy). But I simply do not understand your fascination with Gallo. I can only attribute it to me now living in PDX and local Denver media hype the past few years. Gallo is a middling player. He has been his whole career. He shoots under 42%. He has lost his ability to drive and laterally defend (something that elevated his game in his ONE good season). Wilson Chandler has always been arguably better than him and I can't figure out why Denver still latches on to this kid. He never was a superstar (can't believe you actually all thought this at times) or a star. Bottom line, as a GM it is abundantly clear. The kid gets injured. He's never played a full season. His skillset is diminished. He's Kyle Korver now folks; a spot up shooter who is average at everything else. Oh, and the two bum knees. I would let him finish his contract or trade him for virtually ANY young prospect.

So there is my pragmatic plan on how we should proceed this offseason. What are your thoughts/fervent disagreements? Sound off Stiffs!