Nuggets Preview: In addition to the championship, any other result is unacceptable

Let us sort out the Nuggets’ offseason operations, lineup characteristics, and championship possibilities.

Last season's record was

50 wins and 32 losses, fourth in the Western Conference.

The Clippers were 4-3 in the first round of the playoffs and lost to the Thunder 3-4 in the second round.

Nuggets lineup

Point guard: Jamal Murray, Jaylen Pickett,

Shooting guard: Crown, Julian Strawther, Tim Hardaway Jr.

Small forward: Cam Johnson, Watson, Bruce Brown

Power Forward: Aaron Gordon, Nagy

Center: Jokic, Valanciunas, Holmes II

Starting Five

ESPN Top 100 Players - Six

Nikola Jokic (1)

Aaron Gordon (40)

Jamal Murray (46)

Christian Braun (62)

Cameron Johnson (67)

Jonas Valanciunas (87)

Jokic - the current number one player in the league and the most likely to win the MVP player in the new season.

In the ESPN Top 100 Players selection, Jokic ranked first, beating Alexander, Doncic, Antetokounmpo, Durant, Curry and other players.

In the offseason survey organized by ESPN, Nikola Jokic received 19 votes in the voting for the best active player, and the other vote went to Luka Doncic.

A certain Eastern Conference team executive even exaggeratedly said: “As long as he’s walking and breathing, it should be him!”

Therefore, although Alexander won the MVP and championship last season, Jokic is now the league’s consensus player.

Offseason operations - extreme one-for-four

The Nuggets' offseason operations were perfect. In the questionnaire survey issued to the league's general managers, the question was which team made the best adjustments during the offseason.

The Nuggets accounted for 10% of the votes, second only to the Eagles with 53% and the Rockets with 27%.

The annual salary of the four new players is lower than Porter's annual salary

Cameron Johnson (21 million) + Valanciunas (10.4 million) + Brown (2.3 million) + Hardaway Jr. (2.3 million) = US$36 million

Porter's salary in the 2025-26 season: US$38.3 million.

(1) Make a trade with the Nets, Michael Porter Jr. is exchanged for Cameron Johnson.

The Nuggets gained a shooter. Cameron Johnson is a perfect fit for Jokic. He can open up offensive space for Jokic, and Jokic can create three-point opportunities for him.

Cameron Johnson averaged 2.3 three-pointers per game with a 39.2% three-point shooting rate in his career.

According to statistics, Johnson is the only player who has averaged 2+ catch-and-shoot three-pointers per game in the past four years and has a shooting percentage of 40%.

Last season, Cameron Johnson shot 39% from three-point range, averaging 2.8 shots per game.

Talking about new aid Cameron Johnson, Adelman said: "Everyone says 'Anyone can play with Nikola Jokic,' but some players are born for him. We particularly value Johnson's ability to work hand-to-hand and his shooting - these qualities will be a perfect fit for Jokic."

Adelman also said Said: "Johnson's ability to run without the ball is more prominent, which can effectively reduce the pressure of holding the ball. His personality perfectly fits the team culture. When Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic dominate the offense, Johnson can provide a new two-person tactical option, making our offensive system more three-dimensional and versatile."

(2) In a trade with the Kings, Saric was exchanged for Valanciunas.

Adelman positioned Valanciunas as an organizing center. Adelman said: "He has been a top-level center in the past ten years and can play any role on the court. What I mean by 'organizing center' does not mean grabbing baskets. He can advance with the ball behind the plate, but can serve as a tactical fulcrum in the half-court offense. He is highly compatible with our existing system: he can play five-way tactics to execute weak-side handoffs, support in the elbow area, and post up against small lineups. What is even more rare is his ability to improve his teammates. Not the assist numbers, but his ability to initiate plays with his influence. "

Adelman: "Jonas Valanciunas is a "organization center" type of player. Such a player does not need to be paired with a traditional point guard when on the court. "

Jokic said this about Valanciunas: "Valanciunas is definitely a threat on the court. He is extremely talented. He is definitely another version of me. We are just slightly different. Valanciunas can be a huge help in terms of protecting the defensive glass, especially when we play against smaller lineups. At the same time, Valanciunas can also punish smaller lineups at the basket. "

(3) Signed a one-year contract with Bruce Brown, the hero of the Nuggets' first championship, for $2.3 million.

(4) Signed a one-year contract with Tim Hardaway Jr. for $2.3 million.

Tim Hardaway Jr. can play the role of a shooter.

Tim Hardaway Jr. He is 196 centimeters tall, weighs 92 kilograms, and has a wingspan of 201 centimeters.

Tim Hardaway Jr. averaged 11 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game last season, and his three-point shooting percentage was 36.8%.

According to statistics, Hardaway Jr. made 36 of 57 open three-pointers at fixed points last season, with a shooting percentage of 63%..

(5) Did not sign a contract with Westbrook.

The Nuggets did not include Westbrook in their plans for the new season and did not promise to give Westbrook playing time.

Therefore, Westbrook did not sign with the Nuggets.

(6) A major change of coaching staff.

(1) In the last three games of the regular season last season, Nuggets coach Malone was fired. Then Adelman took over to coach the regular season and playoffs, and officially became the head coach of the Nuggets during the offseason.

With three games left in the regular season, the Nuggets fired coach Mike Malone, who had led the team to the championship. Adelman Jr. served as the interim head coach and led the team to three consecutive victories to end the regular season. They eliminated the Clippers 4-3 in the tiebreaker in the first round of the playoffs. In the Western Conference semifinals, they battled with the league's No. 1 Thunder until the tiebreaker. He led the Nuggets to only one victory away from the Western Conference finals.

(2) Former Lakers player and former Mavericks assistant coach Jared Dudley joined the Nuggets as David Adelman's chief assistant.

(3) JJ Barea, who won the NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, has agreed to join the Denver Nuggets as an assistant coach under David Adelman.

(4) Rodney Billups also joined the Nuggets coaching staff as an assistant coach. He has served as a scout for the Nets, an assistant coach for the Trail Blazers for three years, and a scout for the Bucks for one season. His rich connections and professional experience will have a positive impact on the Nuggets.

PS: Last year’s first-round pick (22nd overall in the first round) De’Aaron Holmes II is back.

New season goal - Nuggets championship

In May, the Nuggets boss had already set goals for the Nuggets for the 2025-26 season.

When appointing Adelman as the team's new coach, Nuggets boss Clark said: "He is deeply proud of the cohesion the team has shown in the past few weeks. Except for the championship, any other result is unacceptable."

Nuggets advantage

(1) Jokic

Jokic is the strongest player in the league today, and with Jokic, everything is possible.

With Jokic and some capable players, the Nuggets are a championship contending team.

There is no reason for the Nuggets to compete for the championship, Jokic is the reason

(2) The Nuggets' main players all have three-pointers

The five Nuggets starting three-pointers all shot over 39%. Although the three-point shooting percentage of substitute players Hardaway Jr. and Brown is not as high as that of the starters, they can shoot three-pointers.

Aaron Gordon - 43.6%

Nikola Jokic - 41.7%

Christian Braun - 39.7%

Jamal Murray - 39.3%

Cameron Johnson - 39.0 %

Tim Hardaway Jr.-36.8%

Bruce Brown-33.3%

(3) Lineup Depth

The Nuggets upgraded their lineup during the offseason, which greatly improved the team's lineup depth. Mainly reflected in two aspects.

First, he found a substitute for Jokic, which improved the team's advantage at the center position.

Second, Porter Jr. was exchanged for the more comprehensive and healthier Johnson, and Brown and Hardaway Jr. were signed. These players enriched the team's tactical system and made the rotation deeper.

The focus is defense

Last season, the Nuggets' defensive efficiency was 21st in the league. This is one of the reasons why they missed the championship.

Last season, many of the Nuggets' wins were by high scores, relying more on offense, that is, scoring more points than the opponent, rather than relying on defense to limit the opponent's scoring.

In the new season, the key factor affecting whether the Nuggets can win the championship is defense.

As Aaron Gordon said: "As long as we can play the top ten defense in the league, then we can win the championship."

Predicted record

Win 3-5 more games than last season, 54 wins and 28 losses, third in the Western Conference.

Conclusion

The Nuggets are very strong in the new season. The Nuggets management has found helpers for Jokic and deepened the depth of the lineup. With Jokic as a helper, the league should tremble. In this era of warlord rule, Jokic has a chance to win the fourth MVP and the second championship trophy.

The Nuggets boss has set the goal for the team to win the championship, and the biggest factor affecting the championship is defense. (Of course, health factors must also be considered)

Can the Nuggets realize their dream, and can Jokic achieve greater glory?

Let's wait and see.