Brian Windhorst is joined by Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to discuss their issues with the Denver Nuggets start to free agency after losing Bruce Brown Jr. and Jeff Green.
☑️ Subscribe to ESPN+: https://plus.espn.com/
📱Get the ESPN App: http://www.espn.com/espn/apps/espn
🏀 Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2yxs3Og
☑️Subscribe to ESPN on YouTube: http://es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoYOUTUBE
☑️Watch ESPN on YouTube TV: http://es.pn/YouTubeTV
37 Comments
Nuggets lost depth, lakers gained depth, suns got better on the top end. I don’t think the nuggets should be the favorite in the west going into next season 🤷🏼♂️
What is going on with the Denver Nuggets??
Hmm love these guys but their understanding of the Nuggets is kind of recent and lacking depth. First Jeff Green was extremely inconsistent off the bench. He disappeared in many games, didn’t rebound and was a regular punching bag for fans. He got an overpay from Houston for leadership so happy trails Jeff. As for Bruce, well congrats to him, but the Nuggets were never going to be able,to keep him. Next season’s bench? Well Vlatko and Zeke Nnaji are ready for more minutes. Braun and Watson are ready to step up. They drafted 3 over age players so they will only need a short apprenticeship. Nuggs are fine (touch wood).
They'll be fine, but they did win the championship playing 8 guys and they lost 2 of them so it will be interesting seeing will they sign some vets or play the young guys.
Nuggets won the ship and took their foot off the pedal. Definitely needed those bench pieces in my opinion. They should still be the favourites pre season, but we’ll see how it looks after a dozen or so games. MPJ needs to step up.
bontemps is the most pessimistic person on television.
Oh no
The Lakers might take one game from them this time around 😱
Mike Malone too busy reading Laker headlines…
I heard the same thing when they signed DeAndre Jordan first thing last season too 🤷♂️ I trust the front office at this point lol
Nuggets betting on improvements from Braun and Watson. Can't say it was a bad free agency when it was expected that Bruce would leave. Mike Malone can sell the nobody believes in us champs.
Do you not understand Christin Braun has won at all 3 levels already the winning pedigree is already in him tf the summer league gonna do for him
It’s like the warriors after they won their last title. Otto Porter, Damian Lee, GP2, Bjelica, all their important role players got new better contracts elsewhere.
While I do agree that they’ve had a horrible free agency so far, I think people forget that this was the first season where the core of the Nuggets was completely healthy, and Jokic is the oldest of those guys at only 28. Murray Gordon and Porter still aren’t even in their primes and even Jokic is still on the rise.
Cancar is better than Jeff Green
Everyone knew they were losing Bruce brown…. Other than that they’re fine
You guys act like they had a good bench last season 😅 relax guys teams didn't want Bruce last year and that worked out, acting like the szn is over for Denver already 🙄
As a lifetime Nuggets fan the whole re-sign of Reggie Jackson using the MLE make us the biggest loser on the whole free agency.
Bringing DJA is a good call
Justin Holliday is a pretty good pick up
The draft was good too with Pickett.
Losing JGreen hurts, but was a neccesary move to open minutes for Peyton Watson who looks like gonna be a menace on Defense and using his height and length to be a great versatile defender.
But man…Wasting 5M on Reggie jackson on a Free Agency were you could get something better at Vet MIN is atrocious.
We still have the best starting 5 on the NBA, but boy oh boy. We got at lot of ground to climb up. The bench was already on the bad side last season, but this current one let me extremely worry about those minutes without Jokic,Jamal and AG on the court. I got high hopes for Peyton Watson,Pickett,Braun and Collinspie, but they are young guys. They are all pretty much rookies so i'm worry on how the bench would look. We got way to many IF on the bench. IF Braun improve his shooting, IF Peyton Watson show his grow, IF Collin can play NBA, IF Picket can easily adapt the NBA pace,spacing and be a Lead guard.
Yalll better get Bol Bol back !!
Only people who say this are people who don't follow the Nuggets. I'm not saying they had a good free agency, but they didn't have a bad one either. They took maybe a half step back losing Bruce Brown but Reggie Jackson should be much better now that he will have a full offseason and reg season to get adjusted with the team. People are back to just wanting to downplay the Nuggets and count them out. Typical national media smh
– KCP is in his prime, a quality veteran role player
– Gordon has improved massively on defense, might make a all defense team
– MPJ likely to take a leap, either it be his consistency, defense, or maybe he gets do do a bit more on ball
– Murray gonna play at an all star or borderline super star
– Jokic, I don't believe we have seen this man at his absolute peak yet
The Nuggets may have lost depth, but their starting 5 might be so good they're gonna win games regardless, plus let's not forget Jokic made the playoffs with a team of Monte Morris, Will Barton, Campazzo, Austin Rivers, playing key roles, let's not pretend like the Nuggets can't find depth when they have shown they can make it work because of their generational superstar
Reggie Jackson was a bonafide star scorer for the Clippers in their previous years. he has some shortcomings but he deserves his money.
Lets be real.. they are still hung over 😢😮😢
Bruce Brown was a ball handler only after Bones played his way off the team. Also, the Nuggets bench was terrible during the regular season. No question the Nuggs need to find a Bruce Brown postseason replacement. I too, question whether Reggie Jackson is a fit with the second team, but that is what the regular season is for.
God Brian looks unhealthy
Brian needs sleep he looks horrible
Once again you’ve got guys commenting on the Nuggets who really don’t know the Nuggets…Vlatko is already better than Green, they don’t want him back at 6mil/yr. BB developed into the playoff player he was throughout the season, he was not that guy all season long. Nuggets need players to get better, no doubt, but that’s the way this new CBA works! Teams have to develop talent because they can’t just buy teams now. Nuggets still have the best and most complete starting 5 in the game and plenty of talent on the bench. Zeke is entering this 4th year I believe, Vlatko his 6th, CB just played a significant role in the playoffs comin off the bench, PWat has star potential and the 2 rookie PG’s (Gillespie hasn’t played at all) are both 23 yrs old….Keep talkin media, not sure when y’all will learn, this Nuggets squad ain’t goin away!
This is why they are good at development. They trust their young players and given them opportunity. It doesn't always work out – e.g. Bones – but they cut their losses and have a number of shots on goal. Vlatko or Zeke will take Jeff's place. Christian and Payton can take over Bruce's minutes. We'll get some value guy late in free agency. Don't mind it
Bontemps and Windhorst are big market suckers. Bruce was ALWAYS going to get paid out of denver. Jeff green was the only real loss and you can find another vet mid season if necessary.
Here’s the thing. When a team wins a championship they are bound to lose players coz they just won and each player’s contribution is highly valued. They are going to get paid. That’s the reality
Wow tired overweight guy really makes it worth watching ESPN👍not mentioning the other two no names. Bring real player analyze
As a neutral observer, the nuggets will probably be fine. Keeping your 5 starters after winning a title is a good step towards repeating. The nuggets basically need a rookie or vet min guy to step up to be a good sixth man, and to have the same good health as last year. Neither are a given, but its about as good of a chance as other contenders.
I think Nuggets are letting Payton get into a role and if Christian plays in the summer league then it’s going to be his team but Nuggets wants Payton to be better
No one wanted to sign Bruce Brown last offseason, and now everyone have him in such high regard. Jeff Green is not a loss at all, Justin Holiday is good enough of a replacement for Jeff. Jalen Pickett looks like promising ball handler and a hustler off the bench and an NBA ready player straight from the jump. We will see if Reggie adapts better now that he has more time to do it. Also, Braun now has championship experience and will just continue to develop. Loss of Bruce will most likely be replaced with better depth than last year. With no injuries, Nuggets are still the top dog in the west. And Nuggets still have time to sign in free agency, and make some possible trade.
It was $5 million for Reggie Jackson and they didn't have any point guard. Jeff Green doesn't play point guard. Of course you guys can't name an alternative, but it's just bad.
🤔
I don’t see them repeating if they don’t prioritize replacing those two guys they lost.
Ratings?? 😅 lame swipe at the champs.
ESPN chumps. 😅
The 2nd year 1st year rookies are gunna show out these "experts" what built not bought means to win championships.
Instead of the same old Routine slob nobbing over super team fan boy market ratings.