When fans next see the Denver Nuggets step onto the court at the Ball Arena they will not be the same as last season with two key components to their roster in new places.
After two senior players departing the team, the Nuggets will have to find solutions in-house or look for possible trades or free agents.
Reggie Jackson Departs To The Nuggets
In the span of a week, Reggie Jackson went from exercising his $5.25 million player option to stay with the Nuggets to being traded to the Charlotte Hornets for three future unprotected second-round draft picks in what was basically a salary dump transaction.
With Denver sitting close to the second apron of the new NBA salary cap, counting as many pennies as they can is vital.
After helping the Nuggets capture their first NBA championship in 2023, Jackson played in every regular season game last year averaging 10.2 points and 3.8 assists while coming off of the bench.
Denver Nuggets guard Reggie Jackson (7) in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Monday, April 29, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Caldwell-Pope Moves To Orlando
Although Jackson’s loss may sting (pun intended), the bigger loss for the Nuggets is watching Kentavious Caldwell-Pope sign a 3-year $66 million deal with the Orlando Magic. A vital component of the Nuggets starting unit for the past two seasons, Caldwell-Pope provided the team with a “3 and D” option alongside point guard Jamal Murray.
While some may not be surprised about the move after GM Calvin Booth stated “I think we will be ok if KCP doesn’t return”, the void in the starting lineup may be hard to fill, especially for a team looking to return to the NBA Finals after bowing out in the second round this year.
Last year the Nuggets saw Bruce Brown and Jeff Green depart during the offseason, two players who played a key role in the team’s run to the title. Those roles were not replaced as well as the team or fans had hoped. Now facing the same situation a year later, the question is, who will step up and fill the loss of Caldwell-Pope and Jackson?
Denver Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Who Can Step Up To Fill The Gaps?
Christian Braun
The most obvious candidate to step into the starting unit will be the third-year guard who while improving his stats across the board, didn’t exactly take the leap that the Nuggets were hoping he would after an impressive rookie season.
Averaging 7.3 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 46% from the field and 38% from downtown, Braun did provide the Nuggets with energy off the bench as part of the second unit and held his own defensively against more talented and bigger opponents. Whereas KCP was a better long-range gunner, Braun’s fast-paced attack may play well into Nikola Jokic’s ability to hit teammates on the cut and in transition.
With previous starter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signing a free agent deal with the Magic this offseason, as of now Christian Braun is projected to move into the starting lineup for the Nuggets next season! pic.twitter.com/L7Ve8vhDQm
— Jayhawks In The NBA (@NBA_Jayhawks) June 30, 2024
Payton Watson
Another player entering his third season that the Nuggets have hopes for is the combo guard/forward from California. After minimal minutes as a rookie, Watson saw a significant bump in his stats across the board but struggled with his shooting percentages, which is not something that the new-look Nuggets can afford.
While offensively Watson needs work, it is his defense that will continue to find him minutes on the floor for coach Mike Malone. Watson has never been a three-point shooter and plays like a smaller, younger Aaron Gordon, which may not lead to a spot in the starting unit but will likely see him as the first man off the bench.
UCLA Bruins guard Peyton Watson (23) pulls up at the 3-point line; UCLA Basketball defeats Chico State 100-61 in exhibition play, November 4, 2021, Los Angeles, CA.
Julian Strawther
After starting his rookie season strong, Strawther suffered a knee injury that provided a hurdle that proved tough to bounce back from.
Averaging nearly fifteen minutes a game early in the season, Strawther looked to be promising, earning more time in the rotation despite inconsistent shooting. With 38% during his three seasons at Gonzaga, the Nuggets had hoped that Strawther would provide the same outside scoring off the bench, however, the rookie would struggle hitting on just 29.7%.
Should Strawther be able to bounce back during his sophomore season to the level that had scouts deem he was “NBA ready” as a rookie, he could snag an extra 8-10 minutes with the second unit.
Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Julian Strawther (0); Gonzaga defeats UCLA Basketball 83-63, November 23, 2021, Las Vegas, NV.
Other Options
Russell Westbrook, Lonny Walker, Malik Beasley, Cameron Payne, Talen Horton-Tucker, Markelle Fultz, Josh Okogie.
These are just some of the names of players who are currently available on the free agent/trade market that could help to fill the gaps left in the Nuggets starting rotation and off the bench. While some would have to take a significant pay decrease compared to what they earned last season, the chance of playing on a title-contending team may be worth it. For others, this could be their last shot at proving that they are still NBA-worthy players before either heading overseas or calling it a career.
Of the most intriguing names on this list Westbrook, Walker, and Horton-Tucker are the most appealing. While Westbrook is at the tail-end of his illustrious career, Jokic has publicly stated he wants to play with him. Walker and Horton-Tucker are both young, capable scorers who can slide into a starting role or play significant minutes off the bench in multiple roles.
However, it is that the Nuggets fill the vacant spot in the starting rotation and off the bench, it is vital that they do it with competent pieces so as not to waste another season of Jokic’s prime years, something that they did this season when they decided not to run it back with the same proven roster as they had in 2023.
