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Denver Nuggets: 2016-17 Season Outlook

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 23, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) and guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) celebrate during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 104-101. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) and guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) celebrate during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 104-101. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Denver Nuggets have plenty of young talent on their roster, but can they find enough minutes for everyone? Here’s a look at their 2016-17 season outlook.

Denver Nuggets
Jan 23, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) and guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) celebrate during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 104-101. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

The Denver Nuggets may have only won 33 games last season, but for the first time since the 2012-13 season, there’s a scent in the Mile High air other than marijuana — optimism! (Also, probably marijuana.)

Despite being in the early stages of a youth-centered rebuild, the Nuggets and their head coach Michael Malone have done an excellent job creating a new, positive basketball culture.

It hasn’t shown up in the home attendance numbers or the win-loss column yet, but when older veterans like Darrell Arthur and Danilo Gallinari are asking the front office not to be traded so they can be a part of something, you know you’re on the right track.

This young team has plenty of talent and veteran leadership to build upon moving forward. The biggest challenge for the Nuggets at this point will be striking the right balance of minutes between their established vets and their extensive collection of promising youngsters — particularly at crowded shooting guard and power forward positions.

Related Story: Minnesota Timberwolves: 2016-17 Season Outlook

With last season’s third-best rookie (Nikola Jokic) and an exciting but raw point guard (Emmanuel Mudiay) leading the way, Denver’s 2016-17 season is going to be a trial and error process for a lot of young guys.

That being said, with Gallo and Wilson Chandler returning healthy and younger guys like Gary Harris and Jusuf Nurkic starting to get acclimated, the Nuggets might be better than most people think next season.

2015-16 Vitals

33-49, 4th in Northwest Division, 10th in Western Conference
101.9 PPG (20th)/105.0 OPP PPG (22nd)
150.6 Offensive Rating (17th)/108.9 Defensive Rating (24th)

Team Leaders
Scoring: Danilo Gallinari, 19.5 PPG
Rebounding: Kenneth Faried, 8.7 RPG
Assists: Emmanuel Mudiay, 5.5 APG
Steals: Gary Harris, 1.3 SPG
Blocks: Jusuf Nurkic, 1.4 BPG

Honors
NBA All-Rookie First Team: Nikola Jokic

Next: Roster

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