Sports Illustrated - 21.10.2019

* NEW ACQUISITION

They didn’t make a

lot of moves in the

offseason—they have

their hand and they’re

just gonna play it. If

PAUL MILLSAP is healthy

and with NIKOLA JOKIĆ

being who he is, I

imagine them being

right there at the top

again.... I do like the

pickup of JERAMI GRANT,

who gives them some

interesting versatility

up front.... It wouldn’t

shock me if Jokić won

MVP. He’s gonna put up

numbers, and it doesn’t

many any sense how

he does it. He is such a

unique talent that he’ll

be fine even though

he can’t guard on the

perimeter.... They’ve

taken big swings in the

draft with guys people

have almost forgotten

about and don’t realize

how talented they are.

If MICHAEL PORTER is back

to who he was [after

missing last season

with a back injury], he’s

a starter. I’ve seen him

do some stuff when

he’s locked in. He was

my No. 1 [pick] at one

point; he’s that good.

Very good rebounder,

can shoot it and

handle it.... They’re

the perfect regular-

season team, but in

the playoffs you need a

perimeter guy you know

can go get a bucket,

bail you out and make

plays. JAMAL MURRAY

has the potential. GARY

HARRIS is a very good

player, but he’s not

that guy.... I like MASON

PLUMLEE. He passes it

well and, man, if he

could just shoot, he’d

be at a whole different

level. He’s a versatile

center, athletic, just

doesn’t make a ton of

noise scoringwise....

They can play a lot of

ways. I wouldn’t be

surprised if they’re a

top-two seed, but they

still have to make that

championship leap.

Projected Lineup

Bench

As they comfortably rode Nikola

Jokić (then 23) and Jamal Murray (21)

to 54 wins and the conference semis,

it was easy to forget that the Nuggets

were the youngest team in the

playoffs, with an AVERAGE AGE OF 24.9 and only

one regular, Paul Millsap, over 30. In the offseason

Denver added versatile forward Jerami Grant (a

relatively ancient 25) and will most likely introduce

6' 10" redshirt rookie Michael Porter (21).

The scary part is that the Nuggets need not

hurry; they’re impeccably positioned to have years

of success. The 7-foot Jokić, who finished fourth in

the MVP voting, is unquestionably the NBA’s best-

passing center and may be its best playmaker, full

stop. Murray is a burgeoning star, wholly unafraid

of big moments. Both are signed to long-term

deals. It will be expensive to keep the rest of the

roster together, and the Nuggets might still be too

young to win it all, but it’s intoxicating to consider

how good they could become. —Jeremy Woo

24.9

TELLING NUMBER

ENEMY LINES

A rival scout weighs in

PF

JERAMI

GRANT*

13.6 PPG; 5.2 RPG;

49.7 FG%; 39.2 3FG%

SG

MALIK

BEASLEY

11.3 PPG; 2.5 RPG;

47.4 FG%; 40.2 3FG%

C

NIKOLA

JOKIĆ

20.1 PPG; 10.8 RPG;

7. 3 APG; 51.1 FG%

PAUL

MILLSAP

12.6 PPG; 7. 2 RPG;

2.0 APG; 48.4 FG%

PF

Starters

SF

TORREY

CRAIG

5.7 PPG; 3.5 RPG;

1.0 APG; 44.2 FG%

GARY

HARRIS

12.9 PPG; 2.8 RPG;

42.4 FG%; 33.9 3FG%

PG

JAMAL

MURRAY

18.2 PPG; 4.8 APG;

43.7 FG%; 36.7 3FG%

SG

89

JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (JOKIC); JAMIE SCHWABEROW (HARRIS)

DENVER

2018 – 19 RECORD 54– 28 1st in Northwest

Nuggets COACH MIKE MALONE 5th season with Nuggets

∂57 wins ∂Lose conference finals ∂Nikola Jokić will lead the league in triple doubles.

THE

WEST

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