Denver Nuggets Roster 2019 Nuggets Roster

Denver Nuggets Roster Top 3 Questions

The Nuggets are a team loaded with talent, but are also a team that hasn’t made it all entirely click yet. Point guard is still up in the air for this team, but they drafted Jamal Murray to take a chance on him. Gary Harris has developed into a talented shooting guard, and Denver also has Will Barton coming off the bench as a strong sixth man. Small forward has been another question mark position for the Nuggets, as veteran Wilson Chandler draws the starts most nights but has also been linked to many trades. With little depth behind him that is worthy of starting, Barton is usually the one who slides in when Chandler is injured. Paul Millsap signed this past summer, giving the Nuggets a quality power forward to play next to Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets have Trey Lyles and Mason Plumlee backing them up. Kenneth Faried continues to be a name that sits on the bench despite the contract given.

Will Isaiah Thomas Contribute?

The Nuggets took a chance on the diminutive guard, who never fully recovered from a debilitating hip injury. Thomas is clearly not the player that he was in Boston before he got hurt. However, the Nuggets do not need Thomas to be the team leader. Denver only needs 15-20 credible minutes off of the bench from Thomas. This could be a role in which Thomas thrives. His shooting had slumped badly last year, but with another year to return to health along with less pressure to carry the team, Thomas can be effective anchor of the second unit.

Which Young Player Takes a Step Forward?

The Nuggets are a young and talented squad. You know about Nikola Jokic and his multi-dimensional talents. The next player from this team that may become a household name is Gary Harris. While there are some concerns about his backcourt mate Jamal Murray, Harris is primed to continue his breakout for the Nuggets. Harris is one of the better three-point shooters in the league and is a threat along the perimeter. Harris is an efficient offensive player whose usage has grown in every season in the league. With Jokic and Paul Milsap keeping opposing defenses occupied, Harris is free to bomb away from the outside. His presence makes the team better by giving the Nuggets a second outside threat in addition to Will Barton.

Can the Defense Improve?

Defense is what has held Denver back from moving forward. That is somewhat ironic given that their coach, Mike Malone, was brought in to toughen up the defense. Denver routinely ranks in the bottom third of the league in points allowed. Denver will be relying on Paul Milsap to stay healthy. Milsap is a tough interior defender when healthy. In addition, Michael Porter should help Denver in this area as well once he is healthy enough to return to the lineup. Denver cannot simply hope to outscore their opponents as their means to winning because that will not always work in the high-octane Western Conference.