David Adelman has already tossed out one of the more surprising wrinkles of Nuggets training camp: Dave Joerger, the new assistant coach with a reputation for defense, is going to help with offense.
That’s not exactly what many around the team expected. After all, Denver’s biggest issue last season wasn’t generating points.
It was stopping anybody. But when Adelman was asked, "What's the role of Dave Joeger on the staff this year?"
he made the assignment sound straightforward.
"He'll help me with the offense...I know our offense has been really good for a long time. It's nice to have somebody with fresh ideas," Adelman said.
The twist is hard to ignore because the Nuggets already operate one of the league’s most dangerous attacks. Last season, they posted the second-highest offensive rating in NBA history at 122.6 points per 100 possessions, behind only the 2023-24 Boston Celtics at 123.2. They also finished with 122.1 points per game, the 11th-highest total in league history, even while playing at the NBA’s 21st-fastest pace.
So if Denver was looking for help somewhere, the assumption was that Joerger would be part of the answer on the defensive end. That seemed like the obvious fit, especially with the Nuggets finishing 21st in defense and dead last in transition defense.
The front office clearly wanted Adelman to have another experienced head coach on the bench, but the need for structure was always going to be most obvious on defense. The Nuggets gave up too many easy looks at the rim, often because their perimeter defense broke down and left guards and wings free to turn the corner.
Aaron Gordon’s injuries were part of the picture. He missed most of the Timberwolves series and was out of the lineup for much of the season. But that alone doesn’t solve the bigger problem Denver dealt with all year.
For now, the plan is different than many expected. Adelman is betting that a fresh offensive voice can still matter, even for a team that already scores at a blistering level. Maybe the thinking is that if the Nuggets can push their offense even higher, and get healthier along the way, the defense will follow.
In Other News...
Nuggets Backcourt Move Just Put One Young Guard On The Bubble
The Nuggets have added another option in the backcourt, signing guard Ryan Nembhard to a two-way NBA contract after Charlotte waived him. The move gives Denver another ball-handler to sit behind Jamal Murray and Tyus Jones, a useful layer of depth for a team that has been looking to shore up its guard rotation.
KJ Simpson is the corresponding roster casualty, with Denver moving on from the young guard after he appeared in six games last season. Nembhard is expected to be around the team soon, and the next few days will determine how quickly he settles into the fold and what kind of opening there is for him beyond simply filling a depth role. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Eye Another Low Cost Guard With A Roster Spot At Stake
The post-draft shuffle kept moving in Charlotte, where Ryan Nembhard went from an offseason acquisition to a waiver casualty as the Hornets worked through roster and financial housekeeping tied to the Buddy Hield and Rob Dillingham deal. Nembhard, an undrafted guard, is now available after clearing waivers, and that has put him on the radar of teams looking for low-cost backcourt help.
Denver is among the clubs interested, with the Nuggets continuing to scan for ways to fill out the edges of the roster without disrupting bigger plans elsewhere. A two-way contract would fit that approach, and with a spot still to be settled, Nembhard has become one more name worth watching as the market for young guards sorts itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Gordon Faces One Big Nuggets Question Heading Into This Season
Aaron Gordon arrived at Nuggets training camp looking healthy and sharp, which is exactly what Denver wants to hear after the way last season unfolded around his availability. Michael Malone said Gordon has been performing well to open camp, and the team clearly made his summer a priority by getting him into pickup runs well before the usual ramp-up period.
The early work was part of a broader effort to keep Gordon on the floor, especially after he stressed how important it is to stay available and said he plans to adjust his training habits to better protect his body over the course of the season. For a Nuggets team that leans heavily on his versatility, the question is no longer about talent or fit, but whether a different approach can keep him steady when the games start to pile up. [Read more 🡒]