Denver Nuggets Season Preview

Denver Nuggets

2014 record: 30-52

2015 O/U 26.5

Who are their stars

From what I can see, Emmanuel Mudiay, along with Jahlil Okafor, and Denagelo Russell are the favorites for the rookie of the year this year. Mudiay may be the rookie in the best situation though, and he would be my pick heading into the season. Mudiay has played a year of professional ball in China and the Nuggets really are handing him the keys to the organization. He will be the guy that will either help them get free agents, or be the guy leading them with a group of core players. They actually have a group of glue guys as well which is just another arrow pointing to the direction of Mudiay to win the rookie of the year.

Who are the glue guys?

The most notable is Danilo Gallinari, who was only able to play in 59 games last year. Whether at the three, or in the small ball four, he is a guy who can create space, and he can also create a shot. At 27, he is still in his prime, and is playing well in Europe in the off-season, I would expect a nice year from Galo. Kenneth Faried may also be in line for a nice season. I see Mudiay as a guy who gets people involved, and a high energy guy like Faried should mesh well with him. Faried getting Gallinari back gives Faried a chance to play the center in small lineups. The emergence of 21 year old Jusef Nurkic gives him a big man to protect him in big line ups at the four. Nurkic put up 6 points and 6 boards last year, but he should be seeing more time as this teams’ actual center. Due to Wilson Chandler taking plenty of time in the small forward role I would expect the small line up to be one that the Nuggets go to plentifully. As mentioned, this is a good group of glue guys, it really is an all star away from being a competitive team. The question is when does Mudiay become the all star?

Rotational Players

Gary Harris isn’t exactly an all-star candidate but he does have upside being a former first round pick. His rookie year saw some bench minutes, but if can emerge as the starting guard beside Mudiay this team really has something to build on. It is tough to say that will come to fruition and at the time he will see a rotation with Randy Foye, a savy vet from Villanova. Between Jameer Nelson teaching Mudiay, and JJ Hickson who can fit as a center is a small lineup you don’t hate the direction of the Nuggets. A new coach and new point guard could really bring some big change.

Where do they rank? Over Under? How far can they go?

This team saw themselves in the top ten of the draft in 2014, and it really wouldn’t shock me to see them right back there. They do have some upside, and they do have a solid set of glue guys, but they really don’t have the star potential. In the East this is a team looking for a playoff spot. In the West it is a question as to whether or not they want to tank. I wouldn’t say that they will tank, they will give the 19 year old total control to make mistakes and test his limits is what they will do. In the end I think they have around the same number of wins as last year, and I think that if Mudiay gets the hang of it and is healthy they sit closer to pick ten than 1 this year.

Over 26.5 wins, 12th in the Western Conference, 22rd in the NBA