Heading into camp, the Nuggets looked like a team trying to stretch nine bodies into a workable rotation. Even David Adelman said he “worried” the group would “only have nine players.”
Three preseason games later, the picture has changed. Denver suddenly has enough depth to force a real decision, and the coach is now sorting through what he called the team’s “secondary rotation.”
“I’m trying to figure out our secondary rotation. That’s more important to me right now.
The starters will be fine. I do not want to play a starter with the second unit if I don’t have to to start the season.
So that’s the goal right now,” Adelman said before the Nuggets flew to Los Angeles for their fourth preseason game against the Clippers.
That approach makes sense. It should keep the starting and bench groups cleaner, help the second unit develop chemistry, and reduce the load on the one starter who isn’t staggered. But it also means the final spot in the rotation has become a genuine fight, and for now, that spot appears to belong to either Alpha Diallo or Julian Strawther.
The shape of the rotation already seems clear in a few places. Tyus Jones looks locked in as the backup point guard.
Marvin Bagley III is the reserve center behind Nikola Jokic. DeMar DeRozan is set as the first scorer off the bench.
Spencer Jones, who has missed the preseason with a hamstring injury, is likely lined up as the backup four behind Aaron Gordon.
That leaves Diallo and Strawther competing for the 10th and final role.
Both have made strong cases in the preseason, but they do it in very different ways. Diallo has brought the kind of defense Denver has lacked for years.
He fights through contact, doesn’t get screened, and can apply full-court pressure. On a team that needs more resistance on that end, he has a real case to play.
Strawther’s value is on the other side of the floor. He’s a volume three-point shooter, and he can help fill the opening left by the departure of Tim Hardaway Jr. So far, he’s looked ready to take on more scoring responsibility.
That’s why Adelman may need to get creative and carve out minutes from Christian Braun if Braun’s slow preseason start continues. The Nuggets may not want to force a rigid answer just yet. A 10.5-player look - or even 11, depending on how things shake out - might be the smarter path.
What’s clear is that Denver looks deeper than it did a year ago. The awkward part is that the competition for that extra layer is happening between two players who both have something the Nuggets need.
In Other News...
Christian Braun Is Putting A Real Nuggets Rotation Decision On The Table
Christian Braun entered preseason with a real chance to solidify his standing in the Nuggets rotation, but the early returns have made things more complicated. Through Denvers exhibition slate, Braun has struggled to find a rhythm, putting up just 4.3 points while shooting well below his usual standard and having trouble on the defensive end. For a team that leans on continuity and clear roles, even a short preseason slump can matter when the minutes at the wing are already a point of discussion.
Julian Strawther has given the staff more to consider on the offensive side, while Alpha Diallo has made a case with his defense, creating a bit of pressure on a spot Braun had seemed positioned to keep. None of that changes what Braun has meant to the Nuggets, but it does mean his hold on his current role is no longer completely settled. If the regular season begins the way preseason has gone, Denver may have to decide whether to ride through the rough patch or start adjusting the rotation sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets May Have Found A New Edge Teams Wont Enjoy Facing
The Nuggets have started preseason with a familiar kind of advantage, and it is one opponents tend to notice quickly. Denver has gotten to the line at a much higher rate in its recent games, including 46 free throws against the Bulls and 42 against the Jazz, a sign that the rosters size and physical approach are already showing up the way coach David Adelman likes.
Bryce Hopkins has been part of that early edge, bringing a bruising style that helps put defenders in foul trouble. The next step is making the most of those trips, especially with bench players still working to clean up their free throw shooting. If Denver can keep forcing whistles and turn those chances into points, it could add another layer to an offense that already makes life hard for opposing teams. [Read more 🡒]
Nikola Jokic Keeps Earning The Respect Nuggets Fans Love To See
Nikola Jokic keeps showing why he sits in a class of his own, and it is not just Nuggets fans who have noticed. Around the league, players such as Deni Avdija and Draymond Green have talked about how difficult he is to guard, a reminder that his value goes well beyond the box score. Jokics blend of passing, shooting and polished work on the block makes every possession feel like a problem for an opponent, especially when Denver can play through him the way it likes to.
The bigger picture for Denver is just how steady that advantage has become. Jokic turned in another strong statistical season and remains in position to chase a fourth MVP award if he can stay healthy, which would only add to his standing among the leagues elite. For the Nuggets, the appreciation is familiar, but it still matters each time an opponent says out loud what Denver has known for years: guarding Jokic is a miserable assignment, and there still does not seem to be a clean answer for it. [Read more 🡒]