The Denver Nuggets were amongst the unhealthiest teams in the entire NBA, with several key players missing large chunks of the season. Wilson Chandler missed the entire year, Danilo Gallinari missed the majority of the second half, and Jusuf Nurkic missed most of the year. Even rookie Emmanuel Mudiay missed 14 games due to injury. 

One upside to the injuries, if you want to spin it that way, is that several young players had the opportunity to play big minutes. Gary Harris appeared in 76 games and played 31 MPG. Nikola Jokic took the starting center job, and will likely be on the All-Rookie First Team. And Will Barton, who came to the Nuggets at the Trade Deadline in 2015, played all 82 games and finished fourth in 6th Man of the Year voting.

The Nuggets have the opportunity to add impact players in several ways this offseason. First up at the NBA Draft, Denver will have three first round picks. The first pick will be the better pick out of their pick (currently 9th) and New York’s (currently 7th). They also own the Rockets and Trail Blazers picks at 15th and 19th respectively. Three picks in the top-20 gives the Nuggets a chance to add at least one impact player and potentially a project player with long-term upside as well. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see them take a chance on a prospect like Thon Maker, with the risk lessened by having three picks. Denver could also package the picks to move up in the draft or in trade for a more established player. 

After the draft, Denver will have some decisions to make on the composition of the roster. They seem set at PG for the near future with Emmanuel Mudiay, backed up by Jameer Nelson. Mudiay struggled with turnovers and shooting the ball, as do a lot of young PGs, but he showed big time potential with his ability to get to the basket and to pass the ball. Being able to break down a defense off the dribble to draw and kick to shooters is a commodity in the NBA and Mudiay is already very good at that. If his shot develops, he’s a potential All-Star as a lead guard.

The wing positions also seem set with the combination of Gallinari, Harris, Barton and Chandler, especially if the latter can come back and play. Those players offer a good mix of long-range shooting, driving to the basket, and mid-range scoring. Gallinari and Harris was a good starting combo for a large chunk of the year prior to Gallinari being shut down with injury. Both are good at creating their own offense or spotting up for jumpers. Barton seems like a natural as the sixth man. He comes into the game with a ton of energy and gives the Nuggets a lift as soon as he hits the floor. In the past, Chandler has shown a good jump shot, as well as being a very good rebounder for his position. Having these four options is depth that most playoff teams would be envious of, but it all keys on health. Gallinari and Chandler have to prove they can make it through a whole season, but Denver has already committed to both players for the coming seasons with extensions. The Nuggets extended both players with a seldom used CBA clause that allows for extensions when a team has cap space and the player is able to have their contract re-worked. This commitment is a bet on both players being healthy and productive in to their late 20s.

In the big rotation, Denver has far more questions. Nikola Jokic was a major surprise as a rookie. He started 55 games and showed the ability to score, rebound and play defense. He also has surprising range on his jumper, hitting 28 threes. Jokic got to start and play so much, due to injury problems of Jusuf Nurkic. After a productive rookie year of his own, Nurkic played in only 32 games this season. When healthy, Nurkic is a burly defender and rebounder who is also a low post option on offense. If healthy, Jokic and Nurkic should complement each other very well at the center position for the next several years, as both players are locked into very good contracts going forward. 

The PF position is another question entirely. Kenneth Faried's energy, hustle and leave it all the floor style was endearing to fans and led the Nuggets to sign him to a big extension at the end of his Rookie Scale contract. Faried is signed for three more seasons and $38.7 million dollars. This past season, however, Faried played his fewest minutes since his rookie year and saw his scoring, rebounding and defense slip from prior years. Without shooters around him in the lineup, Faried’s lack of range marginalized him on the offensive end. When Denver can put shooters on the floor with Faried, he can focus on crashing the boards, making smart cuts, and doing the dirty work inside. His offensive game hasn’t really developed since he’s come into the league, with his shots still largely coming around the basket area. This has been an issue in a league where teams often ask their PFs to be able to step out and draw the defense away from the paint.

The Nuggets do have options to fill the PF spot. If they wanted to solve the gap internally, they could slide Gallinari up to the 4 and start Wilson Chandler at SF. They should be able to combine to give the team enough rebounding from the forward positions to make up for what they would lose from benching Faried. Bringing Faried off the bench with Will Barton, would give the Nuggets two players that other teams would struggle to match the energy level of. The Nuggets could also look to trade Faried and bring in a player who better fits what they want from their PF position.

If Denver was to go the free agent route, a player like Ryan Anderson would be an ideal fit. Anderson with Gallinari and Harris would surround Mudiay with shooting off penetration and give Jokic and Nurkic room to work inside. Mirza Teletovic could give the team similar production at a fraction of the cost as well.

Darrell Arthur, who has had an up and down career, may look for more long-term security this summer and decline his Player Option to become a free agent. He gave Denver solid, if unspectacular, production off the bench. The Nuggets other two FAs, D.J. Augustin and Mike Miller, are less likely to return. With Jameer Nelson signed as the veteran backup for Emmanuel Mudiay, Augustin likely doesn’t have a place on the roster. Miller was utilized in a locker room presence/player coach role, as his on court production was almost nil. With extra draft picks this summer, those roster spots project to go to younger options for the end of the bench.

Overall, unless the Nuggets were to package picks and possibly Faried together to get an established player, it is likely we’ll see the roster back mostly intact from last season. Denver would be best served to use their cap space and add one piece. They aren’t far away from being a competitive team. Betting on being healthier might not be smart given the track record of some of their players, but it might be the best way to go for this coming season. That approach would leave flexibility for the future, while allowing for development this year.

With so many injuries and players cycling in and out, the Nuggets winning 33 games was an accomplishment in its own right. With better health, it wouldn’t be a stretch to suggest that Denver could have been in the mix for the 8^th seed in the Western Conference. With a good mix of veterans, improving young players, and plenty of ability to add pieces this summer, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Nuggets playing into the postseason next year.

Offseason Details 

Guaranteed Contracts (9): Will Barton, Wilson Chandler, Kenneth Faried, Danilo Gallinari, Gary Harris, Nikola Jokic, Emmanuel Mudiay, Jameer Nelson, Jusuf Nurkic 

Partial/Non-Guaranteed Contracts (3): Joffrey Lauvergne, Jakarr Sampson, Axel Toupane

Potential Free Agents (3): Darrell Arthur (UFA – Player Option), D.J. Augustin (UFA), Mike Miller (UFA)

“Dead” Money on Cap (1): $980,431 (Nick Johnson)

First Round Draft Picks (as of 4/11/16): # 7, # 15, # 19 

Maximum Cap Space: $34,776,000

Projected Cap Space: $18,887,458