Can Denver commerce for a backup middle to Nikola Jokic?

Denver Put up author Bennett Durando opens the Nuggets mailbag periodically all through the season. You possibly can submit a Nuggets or NBA associated query right here.

Why has the Nuggets protection been so terrible up to now this season? Does something explicit stand out? I’ve solely often watched nationwide exhibits as a result of I refuse to pay for Kroenkes’ low-cost streaming service, however I seen a ton of factors have been being dropped.

-CS, Denver

I do not learn about “horrible”. Remoted factors do not all the time inform the entire story. However you are not improper. The primary outcomes point out a regression in the direction of the 2022-2023 figures.

The Nuggets are 18th in protection after 10 video games. That is 10 locations lower than final season and three locations lower than two years in the past. The excellent news: They have been nonetheless ok offensively to win the championship that season, and their present offensive ranking sits inside 0.1 factors of that of the 2022-23 staff regardless of roster modifications and accidents.

However again to protection. Michael Malone can virtually deal with a loss regardless of good protection, greater than a win with unhealthy protection. (The important thing phrase is “virtually.”) The primary subject he talked about to reporters after the victory towards Miami was the dearth of self-discipline Denver confirmed on that finish.

There may be necessary context. The Nuggets permit the second-most subject objective makes an attempt per sport (93.5) and the seventh-most 3-point makes an attempt (39.5), an apparent method for giving up extra factors — however a part of that’s as a result of elevated tempo at which they’re. play deliberately this season. They at the moment rank seventh in PACE (101.24), up from twenty sixth. That is what occurs whenever you add Christian Braun in beginning coaching and Russell Westbrook to rotation.

Taking part in quick on offense also can velocity up the opponent. The Nuggets fell from seventeenth to fourth in quick break factors, however they’re additionally permitting 3.5 extra per sport than final season. There may be give and take. Malone believes a number of the “give and take” is avoidable. He is not pleased with the return of communication in transition – a number of gamers dashing to the paint and leaving shooters uncovered.

Issues additionally come up within the half courtroom. Braun’s improve to the beginning lineup resulted in a defensive demotion to the bench, an issue exacerbated this week by Aaron Gordon’s harm and the next improve in Peyton Watson’s beginning minutes. Denver permits the fifth most factors within the paint per 100 possessions (53).

Braun has been distinctive as far as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s backup, particularly with extra bodily assignments. However from what I can inform from the film, he hasn’t but mastered display navigation to the extent of KCP. If he chases a ballplayer from behind after struggling to get via a display, it may well begin a sequence response of assist and restoration. Some speedy guards (Kyrie Irving) can take benefit without having to move; others can find the roll man or open shooter, forcing turnovers and tiring Denver defenders with ball motion. The Nuggets permit probably the most assists per sport per 100 possessions within the league.

Additionally they have lots of nervous guys who’re more likely to chunk throughout fakes. Gamers attacking these fences can simply collapse the protection and set off the identical response. The outcome? Seventh most open 3s (20.6) allowed per sport.

Michael Malone performs lots towards starters – particularly Nikola Jokic – early within the season. Why would not Malone simply play the position Calvin Sales space gave him to show a degree? That they’re stiff (Dario Saric, Zeke Nnaji)? It appears unwise to play a lot towards Jokic and Jamal Murray so early within the season. They play greater than LeBron, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, and so forth. This is mindless besides that Malone is performing like Artwork Howe, the supervisor from “Moneyball” (performed by the nice Philip Seymour Hoffman). Your ideas?

-CS, Denver

First, Durant was enjoying extra minutes than Jokic or any Denver participant earlier than injuring his left calf final weekend. The reason being much like the rationale Jokic averages 38.1 minutes. Within the Suns’ first 10 video games, six of their eight wins have been determined by a margin of six factors or much less. 4 of these wins have been one-score video games. Backside line, they would not be 8-2 with no heavy dose of Durant. Sound acquainted?

Malone deserves some respiratory room right here. The Phoenix state of affairs is fairly clear proof to me that each one coaches are instinctive creatures. Their accountability is to win video games, and if the video games are shut, they are going to rely extra on their greatest participant. Particularly when you think about the NBA panorama. If coaches do not win video games, their job safety is instantly known as into query. The Nuggets began the season 0-2 and confronted lots of stress to get again on observe. They succeeded. They’re 7-3. Malone’s delegation of minutes was pricey. I assume most Denver followers choose that slightly than being 4-6 with Jokic and MPJ enjoying much less.

Now your argument continues to be credible. Malone himself identified that Jokic’s enjoying time is unsustainable. The Nuggets want no less than one Nnaji or Saric to be good. I’d say extra Nnaji, from a wage perspective. He is a participant whose confidence tends to realize floor with reps. He hasn’t performed double-digit minutes in additional than six straight video games because the first six of final season. Which means Malone might have to seek out conditions to permit him to play via his errors, for Jokic’s sake.

I simply suppose these conditions have not come up but, apart from one sport.

By the best way, I like the reference. Philip Seymour Hoffman is without doubt one of the greatest to ever do it. Because you requested (you did not), I feel “Magnolia” is his greatest efficiency.

So what’s Denver’s answer to offer Nikola Jokic time to relaxation on the bench? Dario Saric would not look so good. Zeke Nnaji is within the center. DeAndre Jordan is only a locker room chief now. Is there anybody available in the market? Can we name PJ Corridor in for just a few video games to kick his tires?

—Mike, Denver

I will deal with this as a trade-related query as a result of, as I simply advised CS, the best answer could be for both Saric or Nnaji to develop into the season and play higher.

The Nuggets will possible have a tough time buying a rotation-worthy massive man earlier than the commerce deadline — Robert Williams III, Jonas Valanciunas and Nikola Vucevic come to thoughts — until they’re prepared to half methods with younger skills, which might compromise an already tenuous flooring spacing.

They’ve managed to beat that up to now by capturing the second-highest 3-point share within the league. However it’s a must to contemplate that Braun, Jokic and Gordon’s numbers will ultimately drop. They can’t keep above 50% perpetually.

With that in thoughts, I’ve a sense that if Denver decides to be lively on the commerce market this season, the precedence will likely be including a shooter. The entrance workplace views Gordon as an above-average backup middle for playoff functions, I am advised. That is when the rotation shortens anyway. These issues concerning the middle place throughout Jokic’s off minutes are extra restricted to the common season.

Like I mentioned, persistence might be the very best medication with Nnaji and Saric, but when issues go actually unhealthy, Corridor is likely to be value a strive. In any case, Denver’s two-way middle final season, Jay Huff, is now thriving in Memphis on an everyday contract.

Worst-case situation: The Nuggets exit within the first spherical of the 2025 playoffs and resolve they should make a significant change. Who would they transfer: Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon or Michael Porter Jr.? And what could be the problems at play, i.e. first/second apron restrictions, lack of an actual marketplace for both participant, and so forth.? ?

-Douglas Murray, Grand Junction

We’re already feeling fatalistic concerning the season after 10 largely profitable video games, aren’t we, Douglas?

Remind me of that query from April if the Nuggets are holding their breath to keep away from the play-in. Within the meantime, I’ll say this: In the event that they go scorching within the first spherical, Murray will in all probability have one thing to do with it, just because this can be a championship-caliber staff when he produces. And if Murray had something to do with a second straight playoff regression, I think about it might be extraordinarily troublesome to discover a staff prepared to commerce his max contract. Simply take a look at how shortly the market dried up for Brandon Ingram resulting from extension implications.

Porter is in all probability the reply. Denver already concerned him in commerce talks that went nowhere final summer time. If he goes via one other wholesome season and continues to look as polished as he does offensively, I feel the narrative round his contract will shift. Groups are all the time concerned about measurement and capturing.

Because of Gordon’s wage concession for 2025-26 in current negotiations, the Nuggets are capable of keep away from the second apron once more subsequent 12 months, permitting extra wiggle room in trades. For instance, they need to all the time be capable to accumulate salaries. However that in all probability would not be related within the state of affairs you describe anyway, as a result of they might in all probability attempt to cut up one massive contract into a number of smaller ones, slightly than the opposite means round.