Analysis | Nuggets offseason outlook: Finding a coach and general manager. Do you need to strengthen the company by trading or internal training?

(The original article was published on May 19, and the author is Bobby Marks, a salary expert on ESPN website. The content of the article does not represent the translator's views)

This year's playoffs are in full swing, and the lottery team's signing has also been determined. Next, we can analyze how each eliminated team should spend the offseason, including the draft, free agent market and trading market. Which teams who were eliminated are only one trade away from the championship? Which teams face major draft and trading choices? How quickly can the teams in the league rebuilding complete the reconstruction? Bobby Marks of ESPN website analyzed potential options for each team, including a look at the team’s roster status, financial status, management priorities, renewals worth paying attention to, team needs, and future draft assets.

Denver Nuggets

Season record: 50 wins and 32 losses (exit in the second round)

June draft pick: None

Free players: Russell Westbrook (player option), Dario Salic (player option), DeAndre Jordan, Flatco Chanchar, Trae Alexander (restricted), PJ Hall (restricted), Spencer Jones (restricted)

The current status of the team's lineup:

The pessimistic perspective will evaluate this 2023 NBA championship team by losing tiebreak in the division semifinals for two consecutive years. But the fact is that the Nuggets should not be criticized for failing again, but should have received applause for their resilience shown in the playoffs. Aaron Gordon insisted on playing against the Thunder with a second-degree hamstring strain. However, the Nuggets still face many variables this offseason.

The Nuggets may have a vacancy in head coaching for the first time since Mike Malone took office in June 2015, provided interim head coach Adelman failed to become a regular. Considering that the locker room has not fallen apart after Malone was fired and the team advanced to the semi-finals of the division, it may be a decision without any suspense to become a regular Adelman. But finding a long-term head coach is not the only priority for the Nuggets. General managers Booth and Malone were fired at the same time, which also caused a vacant position in the team's management.

The one who takes over Booth will take over a squad with 13 players returning next season, including three-time MVP Jokic, but will also face the same financial restrictions as this season. The Nuggets' salary structure is top-heavy, with Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon accounting for 82% of the total salary. The first year of Murray's new contract renewal will allow the team to break through the first tyrant line again. As revealed by the playoffs and recent Gordon injuries, the Nuggets urgently need players who are still on rookie contracts such as Pickett, Watson, Strauser, Hunter Tyson and Daron Holmes II to grow into stable rotations. The top four players in the current total playing time in the playoffs this year (Jokic, Murray, Gordon, and Braun) are all from the Nuggets. According to ESPN's research data, the Nuggets' starting five Tigers averaged 94.4 points per game in the regular season. The highest record in the league since the 1986-87 season.

Offseason Financial Status:

For the fourth consecutive season, the Nuggets are expected to still pay luxury tax. As the duplicate luxury tax clause has been triggered (four consecutive years), the Nuggets' current luxury tax fine has reached a team-alliance high of $36 million before the roster is filled. The Nuggets are currently above the No. 1 rich line ($4.7 million in the super line), which makes them unable to use more than 100% of the trading exceptions. If Westbrook gives up the $3.3 million player option and re-signs a veteran's basic salary contract, the Nuggets may save some of the expenses. Westbrook and Saric need to decide whether to implement next season's player options before June 29.

Management's top priority: Whenever a landmark player like Jokic is eligible to sign a new contract, this is bound to be the top priority. The day after the finals, the Nuggets can reach a three-year, $212.2 million contract renewal agreement with Jokic. The first-year salary of $65.5 million will replace the existing contracted player option for the 2027-28 season, allowing Jokic to stay in the team until the 2029-30 season. Jokic has ranked among the top three in the league in scoring, rebounds and assists per game this season. According to ESPN statistics, he became the first player to achieve this since counting rebounds in the 1950-51 season.

The second priority of management is to judge whether lineup upgrades should be achieved through transactions or internal training. With the Nuggets only one first-round pick in 2031 or 2032 left, Michael Porter Jr. becomes their only practical substantial asset. The forward averaged 18.2 points per game this season, with a salary of $38.3 million and $40.8 million respectively in the next two seasons.

Candidates worth paying attention to:

The Nuggets' previous decision to let Pope go in the free agent market had short-term and long-term impact. Pope's departure created opportunities for 2022 first-round pick Braun to take on more important tasks this season. The Nuggets now have the financial flexibility to sign a long-term contract with Braun and can reach a contract extension with him for up to five years by October 21. Michael Porter Jr.'s future in the Nuggets will affect the specific structure of Braun's contract, because the first year of Braun's contract renewal coincides with the last year of Porter Jr.'s contract.

Before the start of this season, Braun only started 10 games in total, and his career averaged never exceeded 7.3 points. After expanding his role in the team, Braun averaged 33.9 minutes and 77 starts per game (79 games) in the season, which is his third consecutive year of 75 games (82 games last season). Over the past two years, Braun and Dyson Daniels have become the only two players in the league to average more than 8 points. Braun's fast break score (403 points) leads the league, bringing his overall shooting percentage to 58%.

Other players who are eligible for renewal: Michael Porter Jr., Hunter Tyson, Jaylen Pickett, Payton Watson

Solve the problem of Jokic's absence period. When Jokic was out of the playoffs, the Nuggets netted 23.9 points per 100 possessions, while the regular season netted 9.8 points per 100 possessions.

Future Draft Assets:

Thunder have the first round pick protected by the Nuggets in 2027. If the first round pick is not fulfilled in 2027, it will be converted to the first round pick protected by the top 5 picks in 2028. Two years after the first round pick is given, the Nuggets will need to give the Thunder another first round pick with the top 5 picks (the same is the top 5 picks the next year). The Nuggets can trade first-round picks and first-round swap rights in 2031 or 2032, and there are second-round picks in 2032 for trading.

Original text: Bobby Marks

Compiled by: Li Taibai