For the previous few weeks, the Denver Nuggets have been bracing for the potential for dropping beginning taking pictures guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. As the times acquired nearer to Sunday’s begin of free company, these fears contained in the group was acceptance and resignation. The Nuggets knew, although it made what they felt to be a aggressive supply, that Caldwell-Pope was more likely to depart.
That probability was actuality in the course of the first hour of free company as Caldwell-Pope agreed to a three-year cope with the Orlando Magic, making the Magic stronger whereas weakening the Nuggets. It marks the second consecutive offseason the Nuggets have misplaced a key piece from the workforce that gained the 2023 NBA championship.
The Nuggets want to determine a option to substitute what Caldwell-Pope dropped at the roster on and off the court docket. It gained’t be simple in both side.
Beneath is a breakdown of the challenges the Nuggets face and what they’ll do subsequent.
Why is that this loss so substantial?
The Nuggets didn’t turn out to be championship aggressive till they began stopping individuals on the level of assault on protection. They usually didn’t turn out to be demons on protection till they introduced in Caldwell-Pope. Defenders akin to Caldwell-Pope have been capable of assist mitigate Nikola Jokić’s lack of rim safety.
Caldwell-Pope, whereas being among the finest perimeter defenders in all of basketball, additionally hit 41.5 % of his 3-pointers in his two seasons in Denver and he made a behavior of hitting huge pictures.
He proved to be a great slot in Denver’s offensive scheme as a result of he moved so effectively with out the basketball. He took benefit of his alternatives and by no means hijacked the offense whereas sustaining terrific chemistry with Jokić and Jamal Murray.
His worth within the locker room was virtually as nice, if not even larger. He offered a voice of aggressive calm. After profitable the 2020 title within the NBA bubble with the Lakers, he introduced with him a championship pedigree and spoke usually about what it was wish to win on the highest stage. He was the one participant on the Nuggets roster who skilled a title earlier than 2023. He translated that have to his teammates.
Caldwell-Pope usually took on troublesome perimeter assignments, so Murray wouldn’t need to tax himself defensively. He’s the very definition of a veteran who wore many hats and allowed extra celebrated teammates to thrive. Consequently, his presence gained’t be simply changed.
Why did this occur?
The Nuggets made a aggressive supply however the brand new guidelines and penalties introduced by the NBA’s collective bargaining settlement damage Denver on this occasion. Had the Nuggets retained Caldwell-Pope, they’d doubtless have gone into the second tax apron, which might severely restrict how a workforce can assemble a roster. Here’s what occurs if you’re a workforce within the second apron:
- No entry to any mid-level exception in free company.
- Can’t combination contracts in trades
- Can’t ship money in trades
- Can’t signal and commerce your personal participant
- Can’t commerce a first-round decide seven years sooner or later, and that decide falls to the underside of the primary spherical if the workforce can also be above the second apron in two of the following 4 years
Denver made a aggressive supply to Caldwell-Pope, however when the race is a tie, you primarily have a 50 % likelihood of dropping that race. The Nuggets ended up dropping the race. It additionally ought to be famous that even when Denver had been capable of maintain Caldwell-Pope, the Nuggets doubtless could be in the identical boat subsequent summer time with Aaron Gordon.
In dropping Caldwell-Pope, the Nuggets now have entry to the $5.18 million taxpayer midlevel exception. They doubtless aren’t discovering a starter with that sort of cash. However they’ll discover a rotation participant with that. That leads us to …
How does Denver substitute Caldwell-Pope?
The Nuggets are exploring the commerce market and canvassing free company. But, if the Nuggets’ roster largely stays the identical, Christian Braun is in line for a giant soar in enjoying time and accountability. Elevating Braun to the beginning lineup could possibly be a blended bag. Braun is greater and extra athletic than Caldwell-Pope. He’s an analogous defender, and a tricky, aggressive participant. He’s a significantly better participant in transition than Caldwell-Pope.
However he’s not almost the identical stage of shooter. He’s additionally not pretty much as good a creator off the dribble and creating off the bounce wasn’t Caldwell-Pope’s energy.
There’s a query as as to whether or not the Nuggets give Julian Strawther an opportunity at beginning, and maintain Braun because the sixth man, however enjoying Braun 30-plus minutes a sport. Strawther is a terrific shooter. The previous first-round pick of Gonzaga is lengthy and rangy for a taking pictures guard at 6 foot 7. He’s extra inventive off the dribble than given credit score. His presence helps offensively and helps the spacing of the offense.
Nonetheless, Strawther isn’t a terrific defender and he should get higher.
Peyton Watson is also in line for an uptick in minutes, though he’s more likely to come off the bench, it doesn’t matter what occurs.
What do Nuggets want?
Inner growth will assist the Nuggets right here. They want Strawther, Hunter Tyson and Jalen Pickett to return again as higher gamers, as a result of, with the commerce of Reggie Jackson to Charlotte, the Nuggets now not have a backup level guard. The Nuggets might want to discover one within the coming days. Denver wants a lead from Braun and Strawther. The Nuggets want Michael Porter Jr. to proceed to enhance what he does as effectively.
That is the truth of the brand new collective bargaining settlement. Groups are going to need to spend correctly and select correctly. It turns into tougher to keep up a championship-level core, and Nuggets basic supervisor Calvin Sales space is aware of that.
Shedding Brown final yr and Caldwell-Pope now’s troublesome. It places an onus on the Nuggets to hit on most roster strikes. Denver is in the midst of Jokić’s prime and needs to maximise a profitable window. It’s going to require extra creativity than ever to get that finished.
Are the Nuggets finished as title contenders?
No. Not so long as Jokić is in his prime, and never so long as Murray can keep upright and wholesome. It doesn’t matter what occurs the remainder of the offseason, Denver is a major menace to return out of the Western Convention and win a title. However they most likely aren’t one of the best workforce or the second-best workforce within the league. They aren’t title favorites, however it’s unfair to strip them of the label of title contenders.
What does that imply? The Dallas Mavericks have been contenders to get out of the Western Convention, not favorites. They caught hearth and performed effectively on the proper time. They encountered some favorable matchups they usually made the NBA Finals. Barring a significant improve within the coming days, that’s most likely the place Denver is heading into subsequent season. The Nuggets will win 50-plus video games, offered they keep wholesome. They’ll garner a excessive playoff seed. From there, it will likely be a battle for them.
It’s not an insurmountable place to be, only a tougher place to be.
Required studying
Robbins: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope intends to signal 3-year, $66 million cope with Magic
NBA free company 2024: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope leads high accessible taking pictures guards
(Photograph of Jamal Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: AAron Ontiveroz / The Denver Put up)