Not much to gather from this article other than a trip down (bad) memory lane.
Really fails to acknowledge the true reality of why Denver is in this position. They have 3 max players. Proven at this point now. Including a player who will continue to command the highest contract in the league each time he re-ups. (Rightfully so obvi.) Which leaves Booth and the front office with 3 options: pull off the scrap heap, hope that guys will take well below market value deals or draft and develop.
Given the Nuggets front office history (go back to the Masai days), option 3 seems hands down the best way to go. (The ability to re-sign your own drafted guys is the reason they threw an above market bag at Zeke which was the right move) Compounded by the fact that the rookies can play with the least selfish, best teammate shot creator & basketball IQ in the game right now, their talents can be maximized.
Where the deficiencies will show is the defensive end which Malone has clearly shown he has short leash for. As much as Jamal’s absence has hurt lineup consistency, KCP and AG games missed hurt the Nuggets way more. Starting Holiday or Strawther is going to show.
But here’s the best part: regular season games are the perfect time and place for the rookies to learn. Assuming health come playoffs, the rotation goes down to 7/8 max. Pen in Reggie for minutes, and deservedly so. Braun after that given his ability and experience. After that, the question is who spells Jokic (matchup based; could see DJ playing vs say Minnesota or going small with AG at the 5 and increasingly tempo, which has proven to work) & then it’s all matchups. Watson probably gets minutes based on his ability to….defend.
Denver has 0 to prove in the regular season. Health is paramount. 1st round home court should be easily attainable. That’s where Malone will earn his much deserved pay.
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Not much to gather from this article other than a trip down (bad) memory lane.
Really fails to acknowledge the true reality of why Denver is in this position. They have 3 max players. Proven at this point now. Including a player who will continue to command the highest contract in the league each time he re-ups. (Rightfully so obvi.) Which leaves Booth and the front office with 3 options: pull off the scrap heap, hope that guys will take well below market value deals or draft and develop.
Given the Nuggets front office history (go back to the Masai days), option 3 seems hands down the best way to go. (The ability to re-sign your own drafted guys is the reason they threw an above market bag at Zeke which was the right move) Compounded by the fact that the rookies can play with the least selfish, best teammate shot creator & basketball IQ in the game right now, their talents can be maximized.
Where the deficiencies will show is the defensive end which Malone has clearly shown he has short leash for. As much as Jamal’s absence has hurt lineup consistency, KCP and AG games missed hurt the Nuggets way more. Starting Holiday or Strawther is going to show.
But here’s the best part: regular season games are the perfect time and place for the rookies to learn. Assuming health come playoffs, the rotation goes down to 7/8 max. Pen in Reggie for minutes, and deservedly so. Braun after that given his ability and experience. After that, the question is who spells Jokic (matchup based; could see DJ playing vs say Minnesota or going small with AG at the 5 and increasingly tempo, which has proven to work) & then it’s all matchups. Watson probably gets minutes based on his ability to….defend.
Denver has 0 to prove in the regular season. Health is paramount. 1st round home court should be easily attainable. That’s where Malone will earn his much deserved pay.