The Denver Nuggets may not look like the most talented version of themselves on paper, but David Adelman thinks this group has something that can matter just as much: balance.
That’s the argument the head coach has been making as the Nuggets work through training camp and preseason, and he’s been clear that the 2026-27 roster offers a different kind of value than some of Denver’s previous teams. The top of the roster is intact, but the supporting cast has changed, and Adelman believes that shift gives the team a better mix.
“We've had more talented rosters here, but sometimes having the same kind of players 1-15 can hurt you in certain situations. So it's cool to have different kinds of players,” Adelman said.
He expanded on that idea by pointing to a few players who give Denver a different look. Adelman said, “We know what DeMar DeRozan is.
After that, I think it's a lot of guys trying to fit in, and they bring different things. We haven't had a guy like Tyus [Jones] in a long time.
Monte [Morris] was very much like Tyus. Marvin [Bagley]'s a lob threat.
We haven't had that in a while. Mason Plumlee was.
So there's things like that it's cool to have back in the gym,” he finished.
That’s the shape of this roster: not a carbon copy of recent Nuggets teams, but a deeper mix of skill sets. Tyus Jones brings a change-of-pace look as a backup point guard.
Marvin Bagley gives the second unit a lob threat. And beyond those names, Adelman has also had good things to say about Julian Strawther, Alpha Diallo, and Spencer Jones, who each bring something different to the group.
The bench is also where Denver’s camp competition seems to be showing up most clearly. Adelman has repeatedly praised the depth, and he’s been especially encouraged by players such as Diallo and Cam Whitmore, who were not expected to be major difference-makers but have stood out early.
That competition has made camp more intense, according to Adelman.
“This camp has been extremely physical because the young guys are fighting for positions,” Adelman said. "...
The back end of the rotation is up for grabs, and you can feel it. ... The two-way guys, the end-of-roster guys-guys like Alpha-they're all playing for something."
The Nuggets are still dealing with the same basic question that hovered over them all offseason: did they actually get better after losing Peyton Watson and Tim Hardaway Jr.? It’s a fair question, and one Adelman isn’t trying to dismiss. But he does believe this version of the team could end up being more cohesive, and that could matter if the group stays healthy.
Denver is coming off a 54-win season, and Adelman’s message suggests he sees a path for this roster to beat that mark and make a stronger run in the playoffs.
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