Nuggets Championship window is CLOSED!

Congrats to Jamal Murray for securing a well deserved BAG! Unfortunately, I think it marks the end of this Nuggets team, as constructed, as NBA title contenders.
All signs point to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (KCP) leaving in free agency, with no real pathway to replace him.
That makes two years in a row since winning the Championship that the Denver Nuggets have lost a vital role player, without a replacement, and lost the valuable depth that was one of the things making them so good in the first place.
Nikola Jokic is still a cheat code. He’s amazing. But he continues to watch the foundation of his team, that was once built perfectly around his strengths, chipped away one key role player at a time.
The Western Conference is only getting better. And the Nuggets are only getting worse…

[@who.won.sports]

2 hours later…. KCP signs 3/$66M in Orlando!

[@porcupinecraig]

The real problem in the NBA is that EVERY PLAYER wants a max contracct and too many teams are handing them out. Murray is good, but he is NOT a max player.

[@who.won.sports]

I agree! They needed to keep him, so I get that is how it works. But in a world where Murray gets less than a max, maybe KCP is still on this team. As it stands, Christian Braun becomes a starter. The bench is full of young unproven guys and maybe Westbrook is coming… They’ll still win a ton of games and be a force. But I think they’re done winning championships with this core.

[@randygraham926]

@@who.won.sports Getting Westbrook is just crazy ... he was about the last guy in the league I imagined as a Nugget. Braun is a good player but just not enough of a threat on offense to worry opponents. And if he starts, the bench is even weaker.

[@reelshooter_cs221]

They are wasting Jokic's Prime years

[@who.won.sports]

I’m not ready to go THAT far. But I do think their title hopes are gone now without a roster shakeup and idk where that comes from. But they’ll still win a lot of games. Jokic is too good not to.

[@hangeulharmony143]

Denver lost a experienced player but still draft a quality player what they need now are a healthy murray and new chemistry.

[@who.won.sports]

Healthy Murray is always a top priority. But now they need to hit on their young guys. Thats all they really have outside of the 4 core starters. Typically young guys need time to contribute to winning basketball, which has been the case so far for them as well.

[@dthomscappello]

All of this was inevitable anyway with that Michael Porter contract. THATS the move they have to make to get themselves back in contention again. They're losing guys because its hampering their flexibility

[@who.won.sports]

This is VERY true. That deal was shocking when he signed it and it’s a big issue now. You could actually be ok with Murray on a max (even if you don’t think he’s necessarily a “max” level guy) if MPJ wasn’t on the books for such a high number.

[@rockysalvatore435]

​@who.won.sports Murray is so overrated. He gets credit bc they win a ring but he's not top10 perimeter. Get rid both

[@randygraham926]

I think the owner and GM are comfortable with them being a 'good' team as they will still sell plenty of tickets. But they squandered an opportunity this year by going into the playoffs with a weak bench. Literally made no moves to improve the team after losing Brown and Green. They could have picked up someone in the off season or at the trade deadline but pretended that somehow it wasn't important. Mavs made some moves that were daring enough to get a mediocre team to the finals. Nuggets sat on their hands. But yes MPJ is vastly overpaid for what he contributes to winning. Without some major shakeups they should be good enough to make the playoffs but not good enough to get past the Thunder or T-wolves. And both those teams made moves to improve themselves. And the Rockets and maybe the Pelicans should be much better next year. If the Thunder are healthy, I expect to see them in the finals next year.🙂

[@mydog337]

Murray plays no defense and when you overpay someone your teammates can feel undervalued.

[@who.won.sports]

That's an interesting point. I don't really think of the players they have feeling undervalued. I think more of the value that's walking out the door.

[@randygraham926]

I said after they lost Bruce Brown and Jeff Green that they had to add some dependable vets to replace them. The GM got lazy, stupid or cheap -- and they never replenished the bench, which ended up costing them the series against the T-wolves. I think they would have beaten the Mavs, and had a decent shot against Boston as they match up very well -- since the Celtics can't guard Jokic. This was really their last year when they had a shot at repeating as several teams in the West have probably passed them -- especially with the loss of KCP. Unfortunately, Michael Porter Jr. is just vastly overpaid for what he contributes to winning. They'll really have to shake up the roster by dumping MPJ or Jamal in a trade before they can expect to be a title contender again. Only so much Jokic can do without enough pieces. At least Denver finally got an NBA title. I expect to see the Thunder or the T-wolves come out of the West next season.

[@who.won.sports]

Totally agree on almost all points, except 1. They couldn’t do anything about Bruce Brown. They got him so cheap and were only allowed to pay him like $6m by rule and he got $20m on the open market. Nothing they could have done and since they were over the cap they couldn’t replace him either. But they could have tried to find a minimum guy or two willing to ring chase. And you’re right, they bet on their young guys off the bench and it simply didn’t pay off. They could be good in the long run but they weren’t title ready now. And now the plan is to bring Braun up to the starting 5 and let the bench be even younger and shorter. And we’ll see about the Westbrook stuff…

[@seanreed6447]

As long as we have our big 4 in Jok, Murray, AG, and MPJ we will be strong contenders. Name a better big 4 in the NBA besides maybe Boston. I think saying the window has closed is extremely premature. KCP got heavily exposed in the Minny series and shot terribly in the playoffs this year. CB is a solid young role player with an improving 3pt shot. He's gonna step up big for us this year. I realize a lot is riding on the development of Watson and Strawther but they have both shown glimpses of being good bench players. I'm still very optimistic about this team!

[@who.won.sports]

Your points are incredibly valid. My concern is the depth. They’re fully relying on development internally to save money while other contenders are spending to keep theirs in tact. It used to be perfectly crafted around Jokic’s strengths and a proven title team. Now there are more questions and unknowns and with that I believe makes them a very good team, but no longer a title team as currently constructed.

[@Oooyessbro]

Stop over reacting

[@jdrmanmusiqking]

Good video. Subbed One thing tho, Murray just isnt good enough to be a max player and is really the 3rd most important player behind Gordon Everytime the Nuggets went away from Gordon in the playoffs, they lost. If the Nuggets are gonna succeed, they need to give him more touches

[@who.won.sports]

Thank you! That Gordon x Jokic lob connection is crazy. When you combine that with the initial action between Jokic x Murray up top, it's lethal. And that's going to win them a lot of basketball games. But it's the star in your role players they keep losing that will keep them from title contention.

[@rockysalvatore435]

How did booth get hired

[@who.won.sports]

He did a good job turning their roster into a champion. Getting Bruce Brown on the cheap, Aaron Gordon, KCP - he’s been good. And who knows if letting KCP walk wasn’t just an ownership decision. The only clear misstep that I believe Booth made is that MPJ contract which has hamstrung their options now.

[@cooreyfeldman2688]

Nuggets owners have always been cheap. The Celtics are in the 2nd apron of the new CBA while the kroenkes are counting pennies. You had the right players PAY THEM!

[@who.won.sports]

It’s truly been fascinating to watch the difference between the two last champions. Celtics have locked their dudes up for years following their title. Nuggets are watching dudes walk for nothing. It’s not all in ownership. They had no choice with Bruce Brown last year. But they could have brought KCP back and they decided not to. Awhile ago.

[@cooreyfeldman2688]

@@who.won.sports I wonder if the nuggs could’ve gave Bruce a 1 year deal if they cut zeke after the championship. Why are they rewarding bums who don’t play ?

[@who.won.sports]

Nah. He was on a rookie deal making like $2.5m/yr. Bruce Brown signed for $20m/yr. They really didn’t have a viable option there. They’re so top-heavy. It’s basically Jokic/Murray/AG/MPJ 1 mid level guy (who used to be KCP and is now Naji) and rookie deals… MPJ is the elephant in the room. But hard to believe anybody wants to take on that deal so you can’t really move him either. Sort of stuck and if ownership won’t pay 2nd apron (like the Celtics for example) to keep a title team together, you lose the high end role players like KCP.

[@jjqq4116]

Kronkies want to keep owning Nuggets while Celtics are up for sale. The Celtics owner are signing too many deals because they feel like they won't be the ones paying the bills when it comes to that.

[@TaiChor5Gates]

yeah and what are the Celtics owners doing right now ....oh right trying to sell the team..... funny that....

[@TaiChor5Gates]

He hasn't signed shit yet... so why is this even topic of conversation.....

[@who.won.sports]

This video was made when the agreement was first reported. Before things changed. Also, regardless of when the ink dries, KCP is already out the door in Orlando.

[@user-ke6ck6jp3e]

Blah blah blah, Nuggets are done

[@hilamadventures4060]

Lol it could be worse yall could be Lakers fans like me.. I would love to be in your position? Joker, Murray, MP Jr, Gordon, all under 31 that's your core. Have an outstanding coach, good GM.. you guys complaining? why? still a top three team in the WEST..Nuggets just ran out of steam, repeating is very hard. Only 3 teams have repeated since 2002. Losing KCP ok, the Clips just lost PG13 Nuggets don't have to worry about them anymore. Dallas still doesn't have anyone to stop the Joker, They have no defender on the roster better than Gordon. Klay gonna have to chase around Porter Jr.. Minny yall will be ready for them again I'm certain. but lets see how they handle success.. just saying as a Lakers fans with iffy roster, players son's on the squad, sloppy management & poor coaching trustt me I know bad..

[@who.won.sports]

lol it’s all in perspective! I’m not a nuggets fan and fully expect them to still be very good. I just see the West getting better and them losing pieces that I believe to be highly impactful in the playoffs. I think it means they won’t win another ring as constructed. But by no means does it mean they suck.

[@hilamadventures4060]

@@who.won.sports Oh that wasn't on you, but those who left comments..Dumping Murray? thanks for the reply

[@branislavlukic3919]

Perfect dance partner to Jokic would be SGA, or at least Donovan Mitchell. Murray plays no defense, never made an allstar, yet alone all nba. Without Jokić, he plays like Draymond without Steph, just look at his numbers. Jokic makes him way better than he actually is. Jokic needs an allstar instead of these role players. Nuggets should trade Murray for Mitchell, and should have traded mpj for bridges. That team would walk to a title

[@who.won.sports]

SGA is an MVP candidate. Cavs aren’t trading Mitchell unless forced to. MPJ is an awful contract Brooklyn would not have wanted. But your Draymond without Steph comp I like. Because they have paired together incredibly well over the years. Draymond alone isn’t a superstar. But what he does well compliments Steph in ways that very few other players could. It’s the same with Murray. Alone, of course he’s not as good as these guys you mentioned. But what he does well compliments Jokic in ways that few others could.

[@branislavlukic3919]

@@who.won.sports I was talking hypothetically about SGA, two of them would kill in a pick and roll, plus, SGA plays good defense. I wasn't talking about the MPJ for Bridges straight, nuggets could have spiced it with a first round pick. The media are calling Murray a superstar, why wouldn't the Cavs accept him for Mitchell? Because everyone knows that Murray is not an allstar level player, yet alone superstar. And I have to add this also, when you say Murray perfectly compliments Jokić, that's not true, because Jokić's numbers don't suffer when Murray isn't playing. Jokić needs anyone who can play anything, and Murray is partially doing it. Put at least Mitchell with him, and you will see, especially SGA.

[@rockysalvatore435]

​@@who.won.sportsGreen is a historic defender Murray isn't historic anything

[@deelak2329]

To just say the window is closed when you still have jokic and most of the core is just asinine. You might say they arent your favourite to win., but NEVER? Ignorance of the highest level.

[@randygraham926]

No sense getting angry. People can have different opinions without resorting to insults. 😉 Of course it's not impossible that Denver could still come out of the West but even with Jokic, their roster just doesn't compare to several teams they will have to beat to win another title. They just don't have a lot of options to improve themselves -- and losing KCP is a big loss. They still don't have a dependable bench -- one of the weakest in the league by far -- and MPJ is just WAY overpaid for what he contributes to winning. They'll still be a good team but just not title contenders. At least they won a title -- a first for Denver.

[@mortystraphouse5077]

down vote disabled by owner. what a sick timeline man