Denver Nuggets: Projected starting lineup roles for 2019-20

The Denver Nuggets may see a new-look starting lineup after the recent acquisition of Jerami Grant. Here’s a breakdown of the expected role for each starter.

The Denver Nuggets were a surprise to many last season, posting a shocking 54-28 record and landing the 2-seed in the Western Conference. Perhaps the ceiling for 2019-20 is even higher.

After a flurry of acquisitions, the super-team era appears to have subsided, and no overwhelming favorite is set to terrorize the league. This year’s West appears deep and competitive, as several teams could contend for the top spot, including the Nuggets.

The Mile High squad improved in its own low-key manner, acquiring Jerami Grant from the Oklahoma City Thunder. A combo forward, Grant could fill Denver’s biggest weakness — size and two-way grit on the wing.

Assuming full health, the Nuggets have a very dangerous and complete starting lineup that should be effective on both ends. Let’s examine a role breakdown for each starter:

Point Guard: Jamal Murray

Jamal Murray took another leap last year, proving himself as a capable offensive wingman to superstar Nikola Jokic. The duo took the reins of Denver’s postseason offense, pounding opponents with a pick-and-roll attack. This worked nicely, as the Nuggets posted a 113.3 offensive rating in the playoffs, finishing second-highest among all postseason squads.

Murray will be a primary playmaker for the Nuggets this season, second only to Jokic in this regard. He filled a variation of this role in last year’s Western Conference semifinals, averaging 23.6 points per game in the series. Look for Murray to build upon his 18.2 points per game from last regular season, which were already a career-high.

Shooting Guard: Gary Harris

The squad can’t wait for Gary Harris to regain full health, as various injuries limited him to a career-low 12.9 points per game in 2018-19. Even amidst these struggles, Harris showed great two-way prowess, leading the starters with a sturdy 105.3 defensive rating. He bothered Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard in the conference semifinals, limiting him to 39.6 percent shooting.

Harris will be the third scoring option in 2019-20, and the go-to stopper against opposing guards. This makes load management a priority, as Denver sorely needs him on both ends. He’s shown the ability to either hit 3s and finish at the rim. His overall abilities make him one of the underrated young guards in the league when healthy.

Small Forward: Jerami Grant

Although he frequented the 4-spot last year with OKC, Jerami Grant actually entered the league as a small forward and has the tools to fill Denver’s wing void. Offensively, he’ll make a fine corner shooter, as he hit 40.3 percent from deep in 77 starts last year. Consider his athleticism a bonus.

Defensively, Grant fills a huge void for the Nuggets, who were obliterated by larger wings last year. Take Kevin Durant, for instance, who shot a blistering 69.8 percent in his last three games against Denver. Grant has the height (6’9”), wingspan (7’3”) and skill (105.6 defensive rating in 2018-19) to properly harass opposing wings. He should have a fairly straightforward, 3-and-D role with Denver.

Power Forward: Paul Millsap

As the team’s defensive anchor, Millsap posted a steady 105.4 defensive rating last year, while often scrambling to cover for teammates. He’s also proven effective offensively, as he averaged 17.4 points per game against Portland in the conference semis.

Millsap will play the role of a savvy veteran, leading the defense while contributing timely buckets. He won’t be the focal point offensively, but expect him to capitalize when a post mismatch presents itself. He is largely responsible for Denver’s defensive revival last year, which is a major reason for his $30.4 million salary.

Center: Nikola Jokic

Here lies the captain. Denver experienced success in 2018-19 primarily due to Nikola Jokic’s stellar campaign, which firmly landed him on the charts as a full-blown superstar. This movement reached its peak in the postseason, when the Joker averaged 25.1 points, 13.0 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game.

Jokic is the rare breed who could lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and 3-point makes any given night. He is a dominant scorer, both high and low, who makes his teammates better with guard-like facilitating. Expect Jokic to low-key compete for MVP in 2019-20. His role will be to lead the offense and overall efforts of the team.