Before the Nuggets set sail for Abu Dhabi in a week, their preseason informally tips off with media day next Thursday followed by training camp. After an eventful offseason, here are the five most important storylines to watch going into camp, including one bit of financial business that could have a significant effect on the team’s future.
1. Gordon contract extension?
Aaron Gordon has a 2025 player option included in his current contract, but he’s about to be eligible for up to a four-year, $149 million extension, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. The first day he’s eligible: Sept. 27, when the Nuggets hold their first practice of training camp.
Gordon turned 29 this September. Giving long-term extensions to players nearing their 30s can involve some inherent risk, especially when the player relies on explosiveness and athleticism as much as Gordon does. Still, arguably his most valuable trait to the Nuggets has been his cerebral fit with Nikola Jokic — a trait that seems both more difficult to replace and more likely to age well.
Versatility is another hallmark of Gordon’s game. Just within Denver’s second-round playoff series this year, he served as both a backup center and an emergency point guard with the starters, bringing the ball up to relieve Jamal Murray of Minnesota’s ball pressure. He guarded Karl-Anthony Towns, except when Michael Malone trusted him to cross-match against Anthony Edwards. All that in addition to his standard power forward role at the offensive end, where he played one of the best games of his career in Game 4 (27 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two blocks, 11-of-12 shooting).
If there are any objections to a Gordon extension other than age, one would have to be the Nuggets’ continued lack of priority placed on 3-point shooting. Their offseason moves have already jeopardized their status as a top-10 team in percentage. Spending high on Gordon (32% in his career) would obviously leave fewer resources to allocate toward efficient perimeter players in the future. As for CBA limitations, the second-apron repeater tax could loom over the Nuggets in 2027, but they would have ample time to blueprint their next moves to avoid that.
Gordon has embraced the Denver community in his 3 ½ years here as much as any athlete in the city right now. He has also developed a close friendship with Jokic, the most important individual in the organization. Both sides should have reasons for wanting to commit to each other long-term. Getting a deal done could take time, or it could happen as soon as next Friday.
2. Denver’s fifth starter
This really should be even less of a position “battle” than the quarterback competition Sean Payton insisted on seeing through at Broncos training camp. Christian Braun makes the most sense on paper to replace Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at shooting guard in the Nuggets’ starting and closing lineups. He was essentially their sixth man by the end of last season. Malone even closed with him in multiple playoff games. Then early in the offseason, general manager Calvin Booth expressed confidence in Braun as a starter even before KCP had signed with Orlando in free agency. This was always Denver’s contingency plan.
But you can hardly fault Malone for wanting to maintain appearances. Braun is still only two seasons into his NBA career. Almost any coach’s instinct in this situation would be to make the starting job feel earned, not given. And Braun seems to have readily accepted that, based on his refusal to pass assumptions about his role during a July interview with The Post.
What about the off chance that he isn’t the fifth starter on a nightly basis? There’s always Julian Strawther, whose second-year development will be a significant regular-season factor anyway. After an encouraging display at Summer League, his preseason will be one of the most compelling on the roster to monitor.
The Nuggets could use Russell Westbrook as a spot starter as well, but that would demand a lot of him defensively next to Jamal Murray while also limiting the lineup’s floor-spacing with a second non-shooter (Gordon). As a defender, Braun is clearly more advanced than Denver’s other options. It’s more a question of whether he can consistently match or surpass the 3-and-D prowess of Caldwell-Pope.
3. Murray’s health
Josh Kroenke stressed this summer that Jamal Murray was valiantly playing through injuries during the NBA playoffs and Olympics, a pair of big stages where his struggles were pronounced. On one hand, that excuse — coming from an executive who was confident enough in Murray to give him a max extension amid those struggles — ought to be received with a sigh of relief by Nuggets fans. On the other, it leaves lingering questions about where Murray is from a health standpoint entering a new 82-game grind.
Participating in the Olympics resulted in another short offseason. How will his knees, calves, ankles, shins, elbows and hamstrings hold up this time? Nationally, Murray will be under the microscope more than usual as he tries to shake his career-long trend of slow starts. If 2024-25 brings another, how long will it take for pundits and fans to jump to conclusions about his $208.5 million contract?
4. How will Holmes’ injury impact frontcourt depth?
Denver’s first-round draft pick was meant to be an immediate building block alongside fellow newcomer Dario Saric. But the DaRon Holmes hype will have to wait a year after his torn Achilles in Las Vegas. Where does that leave the Nuggets’ bench for 2024-25?
If Malone wants to go 10-deep in the regular season to allow his starters to pace themselves, he might be choosing between Zeke Nnaji and Vlatko Cancar to complete that rotation. Cancar missed the entire 2023-24 season then shot the ball poorly this summer during international play, setting up a pivotal preseason for him. And yet, these upcoming weeks somehow feel even more vital for Nnaji. He’s the fifth highest-salaried player on the roster as his rookie extension kicks in, despite having floated in and out of the rotation last year. That was in a thinner frontcourt; Malone often opted for DeAndre Jordan over Nnaji. The internal competition is tougher now, and the stakes feel higher with an $8.9 million check in the mail.
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5. The wild card: Westbrook
How will the Nuggets use the former MVP winner? Will he exclusively spearhead bench lineups, or be mixed in with Jokic and other starters as frequently as possible?
Will he provide a smooth stylistic fit for Denver’s offense? Or will that take time? Or is it doomed from the start?
What impact will his incandescent presence have on a locker room that takes after Jokic?
One thing is certain: With Russ will arrive heightened national curiosity about the Nuggets this season.