Denver Nuggets at a Crossroads: Maximizing Jokic’s Prime After Playoff Collapse
The Denver Nuggets’ season ending with a thunderous Game 7 thud wasn’t just disappointing—it was revealing. Getting demolished 125-93 by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals exposed every flaw this roster has been hiding behind Nikola Jokic’s brilliance. And while bouncing the defending champs is hardly an upset anymore (we’ve seen four straight defending champions fail to repeat), the manner in which Denver collapsed has set off alarm bells throughout the organization.
Let’s be clear: when you have the best player in the world, you don’t get infinite chances to capitalize. The Nuggets are officially on the clock to revamp this roster and make the most of Jokic’s prime years.
The Flawed Supporting Cast
The numbers tell a brutal story. Nikola Jokic created 88 potential assists throughout the Thunder series but saw only 34 of them converted—a dismal 38.6% rate that would make even the league’s worst offenses blush. In the critical fourth quarters of Games 4 and 5, Nuggets not named Jokic shot a combined 6-for-31 from the field, including a catastrophic 1-for-19 from three-point range.
Jamal Murray, the Robin to Jokic’s Batman during their 2023 championship run, disappeared when it mattered most with just 13 points, 2 turnovers, and 1 rebound in Game 7. But the most glaring disappointment was Michael Porter Jr., who averaged a paltry 7.2 points per game in the series after signing a max extension worth $179 million.
Even Jokic himself acknowledged the painful truth in his post-game comments.
“I think we are missing some kind of deeper bench,” Jokic said. “The teams that have a deeper bench usually have more success.”
When your superstar is publicly questioning roster construction, it’s time for the front office to take serious action.
The Trade Value Question
The uncomfortable reality is that the Nuggets’ path to improvement likely means parting with at least one core piece. Michael Porter Jr. stands out as the obvious trade candidate given his inconsistent playoff performances and massive contract.
The problem? His trade value might be at an all-time low after that Thunder series. Teams won’t eagerly take on a max contract for a player who:
- Has significant injury history
- Disappears in crucial playoff moments
- Provides limited playmaking or defensive upside
Yet the Nuggets’ front office needs to face reality: sentimentality toward the championship core can’t outweigh the urgency of maximizing Jokic’s prime years. The Slovenian center just completed his third straight MVP-caliber season at age 30, and basketball history tells us these windows don’t stay open forever.
Missed Opportunities Already Mounting
What makes Denver’s situation particularly frustrating is their recent history of playing it safe. Reports emerged that the Nuggets refused to include certain young players in discussions for Paul George last year—a move that could have paired Jokic with another top-tier star.
The front office’s conservative approach to roster building has been evident in other ways:
- Drafting Zeke Nnaji and failing to develop him into a rotation player
- Letting key role players like Bruce Brown depart in free agency
- Missing opportunities to acquire established rotation players at the trade deadline
President of Basketball Operations Calvin Booth needs to learn from these missteps. Draft picks mean nothing if you’re wasting the prime of a generational talent, and the Thunder series demonstrated just how quickly the West’s power structure can shift.
The Western Conference Arms Race
The landscape in the Western Conference has evolved rapidly. The Nuggets are no longer chasing just the usual suspects like the Warriors or Lakers—they’re now behind emerging powerhouses like the Thunder and Timberwolves in the pecking order.
Oklahoma City showed Denver what a modern, athletic, deep roster looks like. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 35-point masterpiece in Game 7 gave the Thunder a perimeter creator who could manufacture offense when schemes broke down—something Denver sorely lacked when Murray struggled.
The Thunder’s relentless defense forced 22 Denver turnovers that turned into 32 points, showing how quickly athleticism disparities can turn into scoreboard disasters. Even more telling was how OKC’s depth allowed them to stay fresh through seven grueling games while Denver’s starters looked exhausted by the series finale.
Without significant changes, the Nuggets risk falling further behind in a conference where the top teams are only getting better.
Potential Trade Targets and Roster Reshaping
To get back into championship contention, Denver needs to pursue multiple objectives:
1. Add reliable shooting around Jokic
2. Acquire defensive versatility on the perimeter
3. Develop bench scoring threats
4. Find more consistent creators when Murray struggles
Several potential trade targets make sense:
Perimeter Defenders with Shooting
Landing a 3-and-D wing would immediately address Denver’s most glaring weakness. Players like Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, or even Alex Caruso would dramatically improve Denver’s perimeter defense while providing enough shooting to keep defenses honest.
Secondary Playmakers
When Murray struggles, the Nuggets’ offense becomes entirely Jokic-dependent. Adding a guard who can create his own shot and set up others would provide insurance against playoff scoring droughts. Looking at players like Darius Garland or even a veteran like CJ McCollum could give Denver another dimension offensively.
Cost-Effective Depth
Not every move needs to be a blockbuster. Denver would benefit from pursuing proven playoff performers who won’t break the bank—players in the mold of what Bruce Brown provided during the championship run.
The Aaron Gordon Question
Lost in the criticism of Porter Jr. has been Aaron Gordon’s limitations. While Gordon has been a valuable complementary piece, his hamstring injury in the Thunder series exposed how dependent Denver is on his athleticism and defense.
Gordon attempted to play through the injury, but his diminished explosiveness left Denver vulnerable defensively and missing a key finisher on offense. At 29 years old with two years remaining on his contract, the Nuggets must decide whether Gordon remains part of their long-term plans or could be packaged in a trade to address their other needs.
The reality is that Gordon’s skill set—athletic finishing, versatile defense, limited shooting—makes him more valuable to Denver than to most other teams, suggesting he’s likely to remain unless included in a package for a star-level talent.
Jamal Murray’s Extension Deadline
Complicating Denver’s offseason is Jamal Murray’s contract situation. Murray becomes extension-eligible this summer, and despite his inconsistent playoff performance, allowing him to enter the final year of his deal without an extension creates unnecessary risk.
The Nuggets face a difficult decision:
1. Extend Murray at near-max money despite his playoff struggles
2. Risk alienating their second-best player during a championship window
3. Consider the previously unthinkable option of trading Murray
While the third option seems extreme, if Denver believes Murray’s playoff inconsistency is more pattern than anomaly, exploring the trade market while his value remains high could be the bold move needed to reshape the roster around Jokic.
The Championship Window Assessment
When the Nuggets hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2023, many expected it to be the beginning of a dynasty. Instead, they’ve been eliminated in the second round just one year later, raising uncomfortable questions about whether that championship might have been their peak rather than their beginning.
The good news? Nikola Jokic remains firmly in his prime as the most impactful player in basketball. His 88 potential assists in the Thunder series—despite his teammates’ inability to convert them—shows how his game continues to evolve even when those around him struggle.
But Jokic’s brilliance creates a ticking clock. At 30 years old, even with his game less dependent on athleticism than most stars, the Nuggets realistically have a 3-4 year window to maximize his prime. That timeline demands urgency from an organization that has often preferred patience and internal development.
The Path Forward
Denver needs to embrace an aggressive approach this offseason:
1. Explore trade packages centered around Porter Jr., with draft capital attached if necessary to improve the return.
2. Consider no young player “untouchable” if it means acquiring proven talent that fits around Jokic.
3. Use the mid-level exception on proven veterans rather than developmental projects.
4. Resolve Murray’s extension situation quickly to provide clarity for all parties.
5. Be willing to venture into luxury tax territory to maximize the championship window.
The blueprint for success with a transcendent big man exists—look no further than how the Mavericks surrounded Dirk Nowitzki with complementary pieces en route to their 2011 championship. The key is recognizing when to pivot from developing young talent to acquiring proven performers.
For the Denver Nuggets, that time has unquestionably arrived. The Thunder didn’t just eliminate the defending champions; they sent them a wake-up call about what it will take to climb back to the NBA summit. How the organization responds will determine whether Jokic’s legacy includes multiple championships or if 2023 remains his lone triumph.