Strike 1: The ball is in Calvin Booth’s court now.
With the not-too-surprising departure of guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope now official, Booth’s Denver Nuggets have lost the first key member of the self-anointed “best starting five in the NBA.” They’re now left with a moderate amount of salary cap room to work with, and some intriguing options in the free agent and trade markets. But there’s more uncertainty surrounding the Nuggets right now than at any time since Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. returned from season-long injuries three seasons ago.
This is where general managers like Booth earn their paychecks.
Having just recently drafted Dayton big man Daron Holmes, it’s safe to assume that the Nuggets will be less focused on finding a backup for Nikola Jokic and more on a replacement for KCP, along with trying to solve the season-long bench scoring dilemma. Is moving Christian Braun into the starting lineup the right move? Is there any truth to the rumors about Klay Thompson becoming a Nugget, and if so, is there anything left in that tank?
Would Booth be willing to make another, bigger trade, like say one that involves Michael Porter Jr.?
Losing KCP is a tough pill to swallow for Nuggets Nation, but to be honest, it’s probably for the best. Trying to “run it back” by standing pat and not making any alterations was the worst of all the available options. Next season would not have turned out any better than the most recent one if the same roster returned intact. Now, Booth is being forced to make upgrades.
Nuggets Nation is actively waiting for the first true upgrade (you can’t include an incoming rookie like Holmes in this just yet) with their collective teeth clenched.
Bringing back DeAndre Jordan isn’t a meaningful move, other than his ability to mentor Holmes. Perhaps if Braun can hold his own as a starter, Thompson could be the scorer off the bench that Denver so desperately needs? That may be a bench upgrade, but Braun is not yet KCP. And who replaces backup point guard Reggie Jackson, who was traded? That’s not a role Thompson is suited for, and the in-house options of Jalen Pickett and Collin Gilespie are unproven, at best.
Without getting rid of the maximum salary of MPJ, Booth has little choice but to put one or more of his recent draft picks into a position of prominence. That’s a little scary, given what we saw this past season.
Depending on the rapid development of Holmes is a risk, too, and so is waiting for Peyton Watson to find a shooting stroke or for Julian Strawther to remain healthy and productive from behind the arc.
So many uncertainties, and such a short offseason.
You can be certain that Booth already has a plan A, B and C. The question is, will any plan be the right one, now that the honeymoon is over and the pressure is squarely on the front office?
As the calendar turns to July, the Denver Nuggets are not better. Will they be better by the end of the month?
