Three Pressing Concerns For Denver Nuggets To Answer This Offseason

The Denver Nuggets were sent packing by the Golden State Warriors after a hard-fought five-game series in the playoffs, but now they must answer the hard questions going into next season.

These are the three most pressing concerns the Nuggets need to solve.

Pieces To Complement Their Core

With a long offseason ahead of them, the Nuggets may need to find creative ways to retool their core of returning dynamos Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. along with possible back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic.

Jokic is likely to rack up the boards anyways, so they must look towards bringing in some consistent two-way players as he cannot always carry the team, especially in the playoffs.

The Nuggets have a plethora of free agents (three unrestricted, four restricted, and two on player options) to consider signing or trading, and it will be up to the front office to decide what is best for their franchise.

Malik Monk can help better their outside shooting in case Austin Rivers decides to bolt, Derrick Jones Jr. could allow Jeff Green to be traded elsewhere

Denver has their own first-round draft pick this season, plus five second-rounders, which they can use to package for a fringe All-Star caliber player to help them out.

The DeMarcus Cousins Dilemma

DeMarcus Cousins was on the verge of retiring before the Nuggets called and he showed his value to the league with a stellar showing in Game 5, posting 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field in just 15 minutes of action.

Injuries robbed Cousins of a chance to shine early in his career, and he now finds himself as a journeyman searching for a new home.

Re-signing with the Nuggets makes all the sense in the world for him and his future in the NBA by being Jokic’s main big-man backup.

However, one freak play could derail Cousins’ time with the Nuggets and he could find himself on the sidelines not playing basketball again.

Taking Cousins would do wonders for the Nuggets as they would have a formidable frontcourt to field against bigger teams, but his desire to win a title may lead him to search for a more established contender.

Re-Integrating Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr.

The biggest question going into next season is how Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. would look once they line up again with Jokic.

It would not be fair to expect both men to be playing elite-level basketball once they return to the team, so the adjustment period will probably take them a good 15-20 games.

Understandably, head coach Michael Malone will be wary in how he plays his returning stars as rushing them in might risk re-aggravating an injury, but he will also have to increase their minutes as the season goes on.

The point guard and power forward depth chart will be moved back to accommodate Murray and Porter, with Monte Morris becoming the sixth man once again and Jeff Green moving back to the bench.

The Nuggets would have better odds of netting a higher spot in the playoffs next season if all things turn out well, but it all begins with how they move forward this offseason.