What to expect from the Denver Nuggets this offseason?

Denver has never really been known to be a team that makes a lot of noise in the offseason and while they will be without Jamal Murray for the first-half of next season, they will likely not be making much noise this offseason. They could look to bring back Austin Rivers on a minimal deal or potentially target some other experienced guards via free agency or trade, but overall, Denver is not going to look to be big spenders. 

Potentially negotiating a new contract with Will Barton and Paul Millsap is in play for the Denver Nuggets this offseason, but overall, a lot of the focus for this team will be on the player development side of things. 

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Not counting Will Barton and JaMychal Green, 9 of the 10 players under contract for Denver next season are 26-years-old or younger and 7 of those players have 4 or less years of experience in the league! Getting their young guys reps in the offseason and further developing their skills will be essential for this organization, especially since they are relatively young compared to other championship contenders in the league. 

Looking specifically at teams like the Nets, Lakers and Clippers, they are highly experienced teams competing for championships, but they do not have the luxury of being able to develop a ton of young, talented players like Denver does. This is why Summer League and offseason training camp will be very important for the Nuggets this offseason. 

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Guys like Facundo Campazzo, P.J. Dozier, Zeke Nnaji, Monte Morris and Michael Porter Jr. are all going to see their roles increase heading into next season, regardless of the moves the Nuggets make in free agency. Jamal Murray being out to begin the year opens up the door for more playing time for some of these guys and they will need to step up into a bigger role for Denver to be successful. 

Nikola Jokic can only do so much for this team and while he is the league MVP, the NBA is so full of talent nowadays that no team can really be taken for granted! The league is as competitive as it has ever been in terms of player talent, which is why Denver will not be able to take things slow to begin the 2021-22 season as they wait for Murray to return to action. 

Many teams look to add talent to their roster through free agency and trades in the offseason, but for the Nuggets, they will be adding talent to their team “in-house.” Player development and the NBA Draft has always been an avenue for success for the Nuggets as an organization and they will continue to build on their recent success this offseason.