Rebuilding for the Future: Denver Nuggets Plan with Nikola Jokić at the Helm

The Denver Nuggets' decision to part ways with head coach Mike Malone with just three games remaining in the 2024-25 NBA season has sent shockwaves through the league. Such a move is unprecedented, especially for a team that boasts the best player in the world and won a title less than two years ago. While coaches have been fired late in seasons before, it has typically been from teams that were struggling or in need of a fresh start. The Nuggets, however, are a different story. They are the team that won a Game 7 against a deep and potent Los Angeles Clippers team and took the 68-win Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in the second round. This raises the question: Could a coaching change 79 games into the regular season actually make sense? The Nuggets' decision to move on from Malone also means replacing general manager Calvin Booth, who was part of the coaching staff. Replacing Booth is priority No. 1 for the organization as they head into the offseason. The new leader will likely be involved in the draft process and the start of free agency. The coaching situation is also up in the air. Interim coach David Adelman has guided the Nuggets well in the postseason, and he could be in line for the permanent position. However, the team will need to address their roster questions as well. Nikola Jokić, the team's star player, has never had an All-Star running mate, and the team is painfully aware of this. Huge contracts are still on the books for Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., which could make navigating those waters complicated unless one of them is traded. Murray has been inconsistent, while Porter's three back surgeries make him a potential liability, although he has been available in recent years despite a balky shoulder during the postseason. Regardless of the course of action, everyone seems to be on the same page in terms of one overarching ideology: This team can't do nothing and think that's enough. The current iteration of the Denver Nuggets should be done for. Looking back at the 2024-25 season, the Nuggets finished with a record of 50-32, fourth in the Western Conference. They lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games in the second round. The highlight of the season was Aaron Gordon's buzzer-beater dunk against the Clippers in Game 4 of the first round. Even after 50-plus viewings, his timing is remarkable. For next season, the Nuggets have signed Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Zeke Nnaji, Christian Braun, DaRon Holmes, Julian Strawther, Peyton Watson, Jalen Pickett, and Hunter Tyson. Key free agents include DeAndre Jordan (UFA) and Russell Westbrook (player option). The projected salary is $190,585,496, and they have no draft picks. In terms of draft focus, if the Nuggets trade into the draft, identifying a wing with ball-handling capabilities would be prudent. Given their current salary commitment, they are expected to be over the first apron and could be over the second apron if Šarić opts in for over $5.4 million. However, if they conduct several trades and take back less money, they may find enough room to spend a little.