

This means that they don’t need to rely on a young talent from the 2022 NBA Draft. However, the Nuggets’ starting shooting guard and a reliable bench piece could be headed elsewhere, creating a whole new dynamic.įortunately for the Nuggets, they have their foundational pieces to build upon. In other words, most of the team’s starting five will stay the same. are expected to remain on the Nuggets roster with Jokic for the 2022-2023 season. Rumor has it that Will Barton and Monte Morris are “believed to be available in trade talks.” Meanwhile, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. How does this team plan on improving under shifting front office positions to capitalize on the MVP-caliber gameplay of Jokic?Īccording to Action Network, there are rumors of potential trade options out of Denver. He was the team’s top contributor in virtually every aspect of the game, earning him his second regular-season MVP title in a row. Nikola Jokic pulled a ton of the weight all season. An updated look at the Denver Nuggets 2022 salary cap table, including team cap space, dead cap figures, and complete breakdowns of player cap hits, salaries, and bonuses. Coach: Dan Issel (9-17), Mike Evans (18-38) Executive: Kiki Vandeweghe. In fact, the team only mustered up one postseason win in the first round against the Golden State Warriors, a team vying for the 2022 NBA Finals championship.ĭespite the team’s lack of longevity in the postseason tournament, there are promising pieces on the roster. Record: 27-55, Finished 6th in NBA Midwest Division. 21 Overall), C+: This is a nice fit for the Nuggets, even if it might be a few spots high on Braun. Surely he would want some assurances on a starting role in the future before signing a new deal.The Denver Nuggets are well into the offseason after falling flat in the playoffs. Roster Needs: Health, perimeter defense, health again Christian Braun (No. Complicating matters is his eligibility for a contract extension this offseason. Perhaps Monty Williams rights his wrongs by inserting Johnson into the starting lineup next season. This prompts the question, why hasn’t that unit been used more?
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They were +29.5 in net rating across the 42 minutes, then an astounding +41.5 during the 24 minutes in the playoffs. This is made even more incredible by the statistics with this five on the floor. They combined for a grand total of 42 minutes in the regular season, then 24 minutes during the postseason. It’s remarkable how little the group of Paul, Booker, Bridges, Johnson and Ayton have played. Johnson proved himself a much better offensive player, shooting far greater percentages from the field and three-point range. You can now argue he’s simply a better player than Crowder, even if the defensive aspect isn’t fully rounded yet.

The latter averaged slightly more minutes last season, but expect that to change as the 26-year-old Johnson grows into a larger role. Johnson, having now completed three seasons in the NBA, is primed to take a starting role off Crowder heading into next season. This included a 115.5 defensive rating, with Doncic taking advantage of issues on that end of the floor. In 180 postseason minutes, the group had a -2.2 net rating. Phoenix Suns (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) The Phoenix Suns are ready for a starting lineup change next season, with Cameron Johnson ready to take power forward responsibilities from Jae Crowder.Īs successful as the current starting lineup has been, there were signs of staleness as the playoffs rolled on. The Nuggets lost the talents of Jerami Grant prior to the season starting after he requested a trade. They then played the second most minutes during the playoffs, this despite having fell in the second-round to Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. Here are four roster moves they need to make to take the next step. In 2021-22, the lineup sat second in regular season minutes, falling just behind the Denver Nuggets’ lineup of Monte Morris, Will Barton, Aaron Gordon, Jeff Green and Nikola Jokic. That had come on the back of playing 50 more minutes than any other during the regular season. The Suns have been the most dominant regular season team over this period, just falling short of the NBA title in 2021.ĭuring that postseason run, the lineup played a mammoth 127 minutes more than any other five-man combination. The Phoenix Suns’ lineup of Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder and Deandre Ayton has been, by far, the most used five-man group across the league.įor the most part, it’s garnered incredible success. The Phoenix Suns have possessed the steadiest starting lineup in the NBA over the last two seasons, but things could be set for a change after a disappointing exit in the 2022 playoffs. By Peter O'Keefe 2 weeks ago Follow Tweet
