Denver Nuggets: 5 goals for Michael Porter Jr.’s rookie season

With his recent injury history in mind, what are some realistic goals new Denver Nuggets rookie Michael Porter Jr. should be aiming for in his first season?

When they drafted Michael Porter Jr. at No. 14 overall, the Denver Nuggets may have secured one of the biggest steals of the 2018 NBA Draft. Who knew you could land a potential generational talent that far into the league’s annual graduation ceremony?

Well, realistically, we all know why Porter fell so far on Thursday night. A back injury and subsequent microdiscectomy (SB Nation did a great piece on the details of his injury) forced teams to think twice about gambling their franchise’s future on the former top recruit. However, if all goes as planned, the Nuggets will have pulled off one of the greatest heists in recent history.

For now, though, let’s not focus on what the long-term future may hold for Porter. Instead, let’s fine-tune our focus on what his rookie season could have in store. More specifically, what realistic goals the dynamic scorer should set for himself in 2018-19.

It just so happens I’ve gone ahead and put together a list of goals for the former Missouri Tiger. It’s my opinion all are attainable for Porter, although they’re more abstract than measurable. Just keep in mind that the overarching goal here is slow, steady improvement.

Now that we’re on the same page, let’s dive into my realistic goals for Porter during his rookie 2018-19 season. The Nuggets have a lot to be excited about with their new forward, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Taking his career one year at time is the safest bet considering the current state of his health.