Denver Nuggets starting lineup: Locks, fringe, and potential break-ins

The Denver Nuggets have a roster with reliable veterans and rising youngsters. Who are the locks, fringe, and break-ins for the starting lineup?

The Denver Nuggets made a wild run in the NBA Bubble a few months ago, overcoming multiple 3-1 deficits to reach the Western Conference Finals. They did that with multiple pieces injured or out of the lineup for reasons related to the pandemic. With the roster fully healthy coming into the 2020-21 NBA season, what does that mean for the team’s starting lineup?

The team’s backcourt underwent relatively little turnover this offseason, with the Nuggets adding Real Madrid star point guard Facundo Campazzo into the mix. The frontcourt is another story, with backup big men Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee signing with the Detroit Pistons and Torrey Craig joining the Milwaukee Bucks. JaMychal Green, Isaiah Hartenstein and first-round pick Zeke Nnaji join to fill in the gaps.

The Nuggets have decisions to make about their team’s identity. They have the pieces for an elite offensive grouping with Murray, Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. They also have Gary Harris and Paul Millsap to anchor the defense. Do they try to balance the two, or do they lean into the offense by moving Millsap to the bench?

Despite their recent success, this team is still relatively young. Can any of their recent draftees crack not only the rotation but the starting lineup? Porter dropped due to injury concerns and the Nuggets snagged him in the late lottery; can a player such as Bol Bol overcome similar concerns to be relied upon?

The focus is on a return to the Western Conference Finals, and a rematch with whatever Los Angeles team stands in their way. To get there, a Nuggets team that punched above its weight in the playoffs will need to get even better, and that starts with making decisions about the starting lineup around this team’s two stars.