With the Denver Nuggets’ bench drawing plenty of attention this season, the biggest question is whether the group can stay healthy enough to let the new pieces actually settle in. If that happens, there’s one second-unit look head coach David Adelman really ought to test.
Last year’s bench picture leaned heavily on Tim Hardaway Jr. as the sixth man, with Bruce Brown and Jonas Valanciunas behind him and then a rotating cast of whatever bodies were available once the starting lineup needed support. Injuries made that setup difficult to trust. Now those three are gone, and the Nuggets have brought in three new rotation names that could give the reserve group a much better ceiling.
The most intriguing wrinkle is that DeMar DeRozan, who was brought in to fill the sixth-man role, might be even more useful if he’s asked to handle the offense when Jamal Murray sits. DeRozan can work as a point guard-style distributor in Denver’s system, and his passing and pace fit the Nuggets’ slower approach.
Flanking him, Julian Strawther looks like the swing piece. The hope is for a real step forward from him this season, and the profile is easy to see: a strong three-point shooter who can attack downhill when the lane opens up, plus a floater that may be second only to Nikola Jokic’s on the roster.
That backcourt would not exactly be a lockdown duo, but Alpha Diallo is there to help cover the ground. The rookie defensive ace and reigning EuroLeague Best Defender brings the kind of athleticism that lets him guard the opposing team’s best player from 1 through 4. He also gives the second unit some needed offense through smart cutting and slashing around the basket, where he finishes well.
The frontcourt mix also has a chance to work. Spencer Jones would return in the small-four role, bringing toughness, physical defense, and enough shooting to keep the floor spaced. He knocked down 39.6% of his threes last season.
And at center, Marvin Bagley III would give Jokic a different kind of backup. He’s a strong finisher at the rim, shooting 64.1% from inside the arc last season, and he also brings a developing three-point shot. Compared with Valanciunas, Bagley is more athletic and mobile, which could help smooth over some of the non-Jokic minutes that caused problems a year ago.
In Other News...
Nuggets May Face Another Roster Squeeze Before Camp Begins
Ryan Nembhards path to Denver could open soon enough if the Hornets move on from him, and the Nuggets are already being mentioned as one of the teams most interested in bringing him in on a two-way deal. The appeal is easy to see. Denver has spent the offseason looking for workable depth and a little more backcourt help, and Nembhards background makes him a logical camp candidate for a team that values steady guard play and low-maintenance fit.
The catch is that Denvers two-way spots are already spoken for, which means any addition would force a shuffle before camp even gets rolling. The Nuggets would have to make room somewhere on that part of the roster, and that creates another small but real decision for a team that is trying to balance development, depth and flexibility as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
DeMar DeRozan Could Unlock A Nuggets Fit Fans Havent Considered
The Nuggets have built their identity around a slower tempo and a half-court game, which is part of why DeMar DeRozan has come up as such an intriguing fit in Denver. His style naturally overlaps with what this roster already likes to do, and the conversation goes beyond simple scoring. In a setting like that, DeRozan could slide into more than one role and give Denver a different kind of offensive organizer behind Jamal Murray.
What makes the idea even more interesting is the lineup flexibility it could create around the edges of the roster. The speculation is not just about star power, but about whether DeRozan could open the door for combinations with younger pieces such as Julian Strawther and rookie defensive specialist Alpha Diallo. For a team that values structure and shot quality, those possibilities are enough to make the fit worth watching even before any real move is made. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Face A Christian Braun Decision With Real Roster Consequences
Denvers roster math has become part of the basketball conversation again, and Christian Braun is at the center of it. The Nuggets are currently over the NBAs second apron threshold, and Brauns contract is a major reason why the books are so tight. What makes the discussion more interesting is that it is not coming from the court, but from the cap side, where every move now carries consequences beyond the box score.
One speculative framework making the rounds came up on Yossi Gozlans podcast and would send Braun to Memphis in a deal built around Ty Jerome and a future first-rounder. The appeal is obvious from Denvers perspective: a path to more roster flexibility and less tax pressure in a league where apron restrictions can shape everything from depth to deadline options. For now, though, it remains the kind of front-office thought exercise that says as much about the Nuggets long-term bind as it does about Braun himself. [Read more 🡒]