This is the Denver Nuggets bench for next season after trading Peyton Watson and not getting a player back.
They are still in the 2nd apron.
With Serbia-France coming up this week (and hopefully both Jokic and Wemby playing), here’s a look at the two best centers in the league matchups against one another.
In 7 career NBA games against each other,
Jokic averages 37/11/9/1/1 on 62 TS%
Wemby averages 26/15/4/1/4 on 55 TS%
Jokic is 5-2 vs. Wemby all-time.
This is currently one of the best matchups in the NBA.
Despite being viewed as an elite guard in the NBA, Murray has cost the Nuggets with three straight awful postseasons.
In 2024, Murray averaged 20/4/6 on 47 TS%. He was the least efficient high-volume scorer in the entire playoffs, including a 3/18 game and a 4/18 game against the Wolves, and scored just two points in the second half of their game 7 blown lead. He also threw a heat pack on the court and was horrid defensively.
In 2025, Murray averaged 22/5/5 on 55 TS%. He shot under 50% in each of his last nine games, and just 15/49 from three against OKC. He also scored only 13 points in their game 7 against OKC. He was a liability on defense.
In 2026, Murray averaged 24/5/6 on 48 TS%. He was the third least-efficient high-volume scorer in the entire playoffs (behind Jalen Green and Julius Randle; great company lol). He never shot above 45% in the playoffs and had games of 4/17, 5/17, 7/22, 10/25, 11/25, and 9/23. Murray scored just 12 points in their elimination game and was targeted incessantly on defense.
In the six years of Jokic’s MVP level play, Murray has missed two years with injury, struggled in three years, and played well in one (they won the championship).
Murray makes over $50 million each of the next three seasons.
So Shams just lied yesterday?
He reported that the Nuggets signed Lonnie Walker to a one-year, $3.3 million deal with the Denver Nuggets and that this would be “his 8th season in the league,” implying that this is a standard 15-man roster spot contract.
However, Denver’s beat reporter Bennett Durando is reporting this is a training camp deal, and Walker will compete for a roster spot in the fall. This is completely different than what Shams reported (and I’m inclined to believe Durando considering he has direct ties/sources to the team).
Is Shams going to correct himself? This confusion is very implicative for the offseason, as Denver is in the 2nd apron and in the midst of an RFA negotiation with Peyton Watson, and $3.3 million dollars along with a guaranteed roster spot would change things.
Currently, Jokic has finished top 2 in MVP for six straight seasons, tying Larry Bird and Bill Russell for the longest streak. He has a chance to break that record by himself this season.
Jokic’s MVP finishes over the years
2019: 4th
2020: 9th
2021: 1st
2022: 1st
2023: 2nd
2024: 1st
2025: 2nd
2026: 2nd
2027: ?
Best Career TS% in NBA History (min. 10,000 FGA)
Nikola Jokić — 63.6%
Steph Curry — 62.3%
Karl-Anthony Towns — 62.2%
Kevin Durant — 61.9%
Adrian Dantley — 61.6%
Reggie Miller — 61.2%
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — 61.2%
Giannis Antetokounmpo — 61.0%
Kawhi Leonard — 60.9%
Joel Embiid — 60.9%
Charles Barkley — 60.9%
I was looking through playoff stats and noticed this:
In James Harden’s prime (2014-2020), he averaged 29/6/7 on 58 TS% in the playoffs.
In SGA’s prime (2024-2026), he has averaged 29/5/7 on 58 TS% in the playoffs.
Harden went to the WCF twice during his prime (also went twice with OKC and once to the ECF with Cleveland), but Harden lost both times to the Golden State dynasty.
SGA has went to the WCF twice (beat Minnesota and won the championship and lost to the Spurs).
I find these similarities interesting because these players have completely different playoff perceptions and are talked about differently. Harden had to go against what is likely the best team in NBA history, otherwise he would probably have a ring.
People bring up Harden’s “lows,” or terrible playoff games, which is valid because he has bottomed out a lot. But so has Shai in just 3 years of playoffs:
- 8/27 in Game 7 of the finals (his team just won)
- 5 abysmal shooting games against the Spurs (7/23, 6/17, 6/15, 7/19, 6/18)
- 24/68 shooting stretch against Memphis (his team just won)
Harden also was much more valuable to his team at the time.
From 2014-2020, Houston was +1.5 NET with Harden on the court and -6.7 with Harden off the court in the playoffs.
From 2024-2026, OKC is +5.5 NET with SGA on the court and +18.8 with SGA off the court in the playoffs.
Why are these players perceived to be so different in the playoffs? I understand OKC won a ring, but they won it because of their defense, not their offense, and did not have to go against a team of Golden State’s caliber.
The Denver Nuggets right now have a deeply unserious bench compared to the other contenders in the NBA. The 7 players signed to their bench are:
DaRon Holmes – was fully out of the rotation last season
Alpha Diallo – 29 year old rookie from Europe
Zeke Nnaji - was out of playoff rotation last season (is guaranteed 8 million dollars for the next two season)
Marvin Bagley - vet minimum signing this offseason (has played in 2 playoff games in his career – only came in for
blowouts)
Tyus Jones – buyout addition from last season. He was not in the rotation last season
Trevon Brazile – second round draft pick this season
Julian Strawther – was not in playoff rotation last season
The Nuggets currently have Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones as restricted free agents, but Jones has already confirmed himself he is strongly considering other offers, and Watson will be extremely expensive for Denver to retain considering their cap constraints (which are caused by the egregious contracts given to Braun and Nnaji, along with overpaying Murray).
Personally, I think Jokic needs to request a trade. It is impossible to compete with a bench like this in an era dominated by depth and elite benches. The two best teams in the West – OKC and SAS – both have incredible depth. OKC has been better in the playoffs the last three seasons with Shai OFF the court, and SAS legitimately have a 10-11 man rotation in the postseason. These are not comparable to Denver.
Currently the Grizzlies employ
-Cam Boozer
-Zach Edey
-Isaiah Stewart
-Jerami Grant
-Quinten Post
-Taj Gibson
My guess is the Grizzlies would start Boozer at the 4 and Edey at the 5 because they are their two most valuable young players. But I feel like that’s a bad basketball fit because both are flat-footed and slow?
Stewart and Post will definitely get a lot of minutes. Grant isn’t bad, but he will likely not be prioritized because he doesn’t offer much future value. And Gibson in the Haslem role?
THJ signed a vet minimum ($3.6 million) with Denver last year.
He had his most efficient season by a mile in Denver (62.4 TS% – his previous high was 58.9 TS%).
THJ just signed for $6.5 million in Miami.
I’m happy for THJ. More role players should go play with Jokic if they want to make a bag (Bruce Brown, KCP, now THJ, etc).
We are nine minutes into free agency (and counting), and Shams has not posted ONE SINGULAR SIGNING
This is why he can never be the GOAT. Woj would already be putting up numbers.
This is inexcusable.
2020: Blow 3-1 lead to the Nuggets (up double digits every game). Lose in the second round
2021: Gets hurt, team goes to WCF without him
2022: misses entire season with injury
2023: First round exit (only plays 2 games, gets hurt)
2024: First round exit (only plays 2 games, gets hurt)
2025: First round exit
2026: Misses playoffs
The only somewhat success the Clippers had was when he was hurt.
EDIT: I also forgot to add he cheated the NBA rules in the Aspiration scandal and is conveniently leaving before a punishment is levied.
Don’t let his quiet and funny nature let you forget that the guy is a complete loser
Does portland know something we don’t?
Why do they have four point guards?
I assume Holiday is maybe getting traded?
An interesting stat I stumbled upon.
In 2014, Kawhi won Finals MVP, receiving 10/11 votes. He averaged 18/6/2 in the series
In 2019, Kawhi won Finals MVP, again receiving 10/11 votes (Fred VanVleet received the other vote). Kawhi averaged 29/10/4 in the series.
I was looking through basketball reference accolades, and this surprised me, considering how long he has been in the NBA. Is he overrated?
I’m a little confused on why Giannis would want to go to Miami (for basketball reasons) and Miami would want Giannis if they aren’t going to be good enough to contend.
Assuming the player package is Herro, Ware, Jacquez, and then maybe Jakucionis, then the Heat big 4 would be Giannis/Bam/Powell/Wiggins? Without amazing depth?
Not only does that team seem to lack shooting, but it’s also just not that elite of a 4. Am I missing something or would that clearly not vault the Heat into Knicks/OKC/Spurs territory?
Another brutal shooting game from Brunson tonight, clearly bothered by the Spurs defense, but the Knicks win Game 2