The Denver Nuggets entered the 2014-15 NBA season with playoff aspirations. Heck, Nuggets shooting guard Arron Afflalo even said the Nuggets could contend for a championship.
However, 53 games into their season, the Nuggets find themselves nowhere near the playoff picture and, in turn, a horrible position as a franchise. Denver isn’t good enough to contend, yet they aren’t bad enough to earn a top-five draft pick.
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Worst of all: they have a roster made up primarily of veterans. The Nuggets’ rotation features two guys (Jusuf Nurkic and Kenneth Faried) that are 25 or younger. That’s disastrous for a team’s that 20-33.
Take a look at a team like the Boston Celtics, who are just a half-game worse than Denver this season. Not only are they loaded with future draft picks, but they are playing six guys that are 25 and younger. The Celtics aren’t good today, but they’ve positioned themselves to be good a few years from now.
The Nuggets haven’t done that. They are in no-man’s land and it’s time to get out. It’s time for them to get younger and acquire draft picks because right now they are rolling out a roster that’s built to win now, yet isn’t able to win.
Fortunately for them, there are a number of teams interested in some of its top talent.
The Nuggets want a first-rounder for Wilson Chandler (just like they want a first for Arron Afflalo). Clippers, Blazers have shown interest.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 11, 2015
Among teams Nuggs have discussed Afflalo w/ -- Portland, Chi, Clips, Mia, Sac. He's got a player option next year, so FRP is a lot to ask
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 11, 2015
As @ramonashelburne also notes, Denver wants no less than a first-round pick for Afflalo when he possesses player option for next season
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 11, 2015
Denver's demands have been high ever since getting two firsts for Mozgov, but Afflalo, Foye and Jameer Nelson could all move before deadline
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 11, 2015
Instead of focusing on trying to acquire Brook Lopez from the Brooklyn Nets, a move that would surely only keep the Nuggets on this dangerous path they are headed, it’s shipping out veteran players like Afflalo, Chandler and others that are key to an eventual turnaround.
Not only would those rebuilding-type moves give the Nuggets assets in the form of draft picks — which is crucial for losing teams that aren’t prime free-agent destinations — they would make Denver a worse team this year, giving them a chance at a coveted top-five pick.
On top of that, these moves would open up playing time for some of its non-rotation younger players such as Gary Harris and Erick Green.
Rebuilding’s never easy. It has to be especially difficult for a franchise that just two years ago won 57 games and was the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. But it’s Denver’s only move right now. They don’t have a winning roster. They need to accept that and move on.
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