Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić Says ‘Depth’ Is Primary Concern For Next Year’s Roster

After a devastating 32-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in game seven of the Western Conference semifinals, the Denver Nuggets have some tough decisions to make in the offseason.

Nikola Jokić remains one of the best players in the NBA, averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists in the regular season. His dominant play, with help from core players like Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, has kept the Nuggets in playoff contention despite the firings of general manager Calvin Booth and head coach Michael Malone.

Despite the success of Jokić and the core players, they have several questions about the depth of the team and whether this roster can win them a championship. 

Injury and consistency concerns plague several of the other pieces in the Nuggets’ rotation. Michael Porter Jr. struggled against the Thunder but played through a shoulder injury. Porter’s lingering injury history and his fit within the rotation at a high price are a concern for the organization. Inconsistent play from players like Russell Westbrook and Peyton Watson can’t be relied on. 

“We definitely need it,” Jokić said during a press conference. “It seems like the teams that have longer rotations, longer bench, are the ones that are winning.” 

The Nuggets during their championship run in 2022-2023 had one of the best eight-man rotations in the NBA with current core members like Murray and Gordon, but also had key bench pieces like Bruce Brown and Jeff Green. 

After their championship season, both players left in free agency, which left a hole in the bench that the Nuggets have tried to repair with players like Watson and Zeke Nnaji, but have been unsuccessful. 

These roster moves can’t be answered until the Nuggets hire a new front office. Whether the Nuggets hire someone internally or not is a significant question, as the next leader of the Nuggets’ front office may not believe that the current core is capable of winning championships. As a result, certain players who are viewed as untouchable could be traded.