Denver Nuggets: 2017-18 NBA season preview

The Denver Nuggets have assembled one of the most balanced rosters in the NBA and are ready to compete in the Western Conference.

All the pieces are in place for the Denver Nuggets.

Gone are the redundant pieces, undefined roles and instability throughout the front office, instead, the Nuggets enter the 2017-18 season as one of the most complete teams in the league.

A surprising trade, with Jusuf Nurkic being dealt to the Trail Blazers, paved the way for Nikola Jokic to emerge as the franchise player in Denver.

The 6-foot-10 center provided an impact in every facet of the game, averaging 16.7 points on 57.8 percent shooting, the sixth highest percentage in the league to go along with 9.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.

The addition of Paul Millsap in free agency this summer provides another dimension to an already explosive offense. Denver ranked in the top-3 in points, rebounds, assists and field goals made last season, without an All-Star on the roster.

Millsap has been an All-Star each of the past four seasons and is coming off a career-high scoring average of 18.1 points per game.

Denver has brought in a veteran, still in his prime, to joint a young and talented core of players.

With every team in the Western Conference, outside of Golden State, entering the season with glaring questions, the Nuggets are as primed as any organization to thrive.

2016-17 Vitals

40-42, 4th in the Northwest Division,9th in the Western Conference
111.7 PPG (3rd)/111.2 OPPG (27th)
113.2 Offensive Rating (3rd)/112.7 Defensive Rating (29th)

Team Leaders

Scoring:  Danilo Gallinari, 18.2 PPG
Rebounding:  Nikola Jokic, 9.8 RPG
Assists:  Jameer Nelson, 5.1 APG
Steals:  Gary Harris, 1.2 SPG
Blocks:  Mason Plumlee, 1.1 BPG

Honors

NBA All-Rookie Second Team:  Jamal Murray