There really weren’t many options. For the Denver Nuggets, the only thing that truly mattered was their star big man. Nikola Jokic, fresh off of a season averaging roughly 17 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, was eligible for an extension. Having played the past three seasons on one of the most team-friendly deals in the league given his production, he was never going to make less than the maximum available salary of a player with as many years of NBA service that he had. That is exactly what happened as Jokic is now slated to make about $156 million over the next five years.
Still, something about it all didn’t seem certain. The Nuggets have toiled around the NBA middle- to lower-class for years now ever since a playoff-run in the 2012–13 season which saw them bow out to the Golden State Warriors in the first round. Other than the first two seasons, the Nuggets have been stuck in mediocrity since the Carmelo Anthony trade, only seldom showing the marks of a competitive team. So when the all-star-caliber big man was up for an extension, it almost felt like another flash in the pan; no way were the Nuggets going to enjoy at least five more years of competitive basketball with Jokic at the helm. But, he signed.
Nothing is certain, especially in an unusually difficult Western Conference (even by Western Conference standards). The top will remain largely intact, with Golden State and Houston leading the way. Following the two juggernauts will be a host of teams with rising stars, established superstars, current all-stars, and/or impressive coaching. You figure Portland, New Orleans, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah, San Antonio, Minnesota, and Oklahoma City all have very reasonable claims to make the playoffs. Sum-of-their-parts squads like Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis are trying to make a push. Young teams with impressive 23-and-under players such as Phoenix and Dallas will look to be heard from as well. And somewhere, maybe toward the top, maybe toward the bottom, rest the Denver Nuggets.
Along with Nikola Jokic, the spark-plug 6th man Will Barton resigned, coming off of a career year as well. Aside from the inevitable departure of Wilson Chandler, the Nuggets remain largely the same, hoping for continued improvement from players like Gary Harris and Jamal Murrary. Pair all of that with the integration of Paul Millsap after he missed the majority of last season and you have a real reason for optimism. Still, it all seems uncertain.
If everything seems uncertain already, it would make sense that the Nuggets drafted the least certain prospect in June’s NBA Draft. Despite rumors that Michael Porter Jr. may have been drafted as high as no.2 to the Sacramento Kings, he fell all the way to 14 where the Nuggets opted to select the Missouri product. The reason for the fall? Porter played 53 total minutes in his lone season at Missouri after requiring back surgery in the beginning of the year. Now, as a member of the Nuggets, there is a chance he doesn’t play at all this year. Porter has the potential to be special, yet its unwise to make any assumptions about the career he may end up having without having seen him play meaningful minutes since high school. He’s a perfect fit with the Nuggets core as currently constructed, just don’t hold your breath.
Missing the playoffs in a conference this tough wouldn’t spell the end of this core, nor would it necessarily put front office and coaching personnel in jeopardy of losing their job. That doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be a tough pill to swallow either. With Nikola Jokic and Will Barton’s massive raises, and Jamal Murray’s coming down the pipeline, it is an essential season for growth and opportunity. Providing meaningful reps to a group that hasn’t sniffed the playoffs is a necessity, especially if there are championship aspirations in the future.
The sun shines brightest in the Summer. Parks are filled with people jogging, playing lawn games, and generally having a good time. There is optimism in the air. Unfortunately, basketball won’t start until late October. When the weather begins to get cold, will the Nuggets stay hot? Your guess is as good as mine.
