Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets talks to the referee in Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference semifinals against the Phoenix Suns at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, U.S., June 13, 2021. /CFP
The Denver Nuggets gave a four-year, $92-million contract extension to Aaron Gordon, according to the Undefeated's Marc J. Spears, who talked to Gordon's agent Calvin Andrews of Klutch Sports.
That became the last major move of the team during this offseason. Before that, the Nuggets also retained Austin Rivers, JaMychal Green, Will Barton and added Jeff Green and JaVale McGee to their roster. Meanwhile, they let Paul Millsap depart for the Brooklyn Nets.
Simply speaking, the Nuggets made an upgrade on offense at the cost of defense.
Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets looks on in the game against the Orlando Magic at Ball Arena, April 4, 2021. /CFP
The arrival of Jeff Green enriched the team's offensive weapons. He was able to get 14.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and two triples at 41.2 percent per 36 minutes last season with the Nets. He's a more efficient scoring option than Millsap. Considering that Jeff Green will probably start off the bench, his screen plays with Facundo Campazzo could be very smooth with his impressive rolling techniques.
The team will also have Jamal Murray back, who suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in April. If he returns 100 percent healthy, Murray is able to take the Nuggets' offense to another level. His incredible off-the-dribble shooting ability plus the screen-setting and passing skills of Nikola Jokic will make one of the sharpest pick-and-roll duos in today's NBA. One of the reasons the Nuggets were knocked out by the Phoenix Suns in the playoffs last season was that they had no reliable perimeter scoring options when Jokic's isolation threat was resolved by Deandre Ayton.
Jeff Green of the Brooklyn Nets prepares to shoot a free throw in the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, U.S., May 16, 2021. /CFP
However, the Nuggets are very likely to be a below-average team defensively in the 2021-22 season. They allowed 110.1 points (eighth of all 30 teams) per game with a defensive rating of 112.1 (12th of 30). The team will probably keep the starting lineup of Murray, Barton, Michael Porter Jr., Gordon and Jokic in the new season, the same from 2020-21.
The problem is with the bench squad. When Millsap was still with the Nuggets, he could make consistent contributions in stealing, blocking and switch defense. Jeff Green was unable to provide any of that. Of course, McGee can fill the paint, but he only received an average of 13.5 minutes per game last season, not to mention he lacks shooting range and the ability to switch on defense.
Aaron Gordon (#50) of the Denver Nuggets drives toward the rim in Game 2 of the NBA Western Conference semifinals against the Phoenix Suns at Phoenix Suns Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S., June 9, 2021. /CFP
The starting quad is not perfect either. Though the team gave Gordon a big contract, he can only be trusted in one-on-one defense; he's not a good help defender at all. Nonetheless, when your perimeter duo is Murray and Barton – neither of which is even a qualified defender – and you must keep Jokic on the floor for the sake of offense, you need an elite forward defender to make sure that your opponents won't drive straight into your heart while guarded by a slow and unathletic big man.
Porter Jr. is still miles from shouldering that duty.
That will lead to the inability of the Nuggets to make a balanced squad. Adding Gordon or McGee to it will hurt the offense too much; putting Jeff Green and Porter Jr. as the two forwards will make their defense too vulnerable. Coach Michael Malone will have a hard decision to make between throwing away all disguise or dragging an offensive liability for incomplete defensive ability.