There was a lot to discuss many nights during the Nuggets rough season.
(Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Pace matters. Altitude matters.
But were those things truly sacrificed under previous coach Brian Shaw?
Nuggets president, Josh Kroenke says no, and the raw pace numbers back him up. But something was amiss with a Nuggets offense that never could get humming in a way that made it hard to guard and prevented the fits and starts that plagued it for the better part of the last two seasons.
“We never tried to get away from playing fast,” Kroenke said. “We just weren’t playing very efficient. I think that was painfully obvious to anyone who watched. When I talk about the organizational fabric, the situations had gotten to a point where our fans… our fans deserve the best. They’ve been subject to a lot of things over the years — a couple of different styles of play, different players — we made it through the Carmelo (Anthony) saga. Now, we’re at a point where we really want to build a team that they are going to be proud of going forward, that can truly try to compete for something.”
Kroenke stopped short of saying there would be an extreme roster makeover this summer, but did acknowledge the team is a ways away from being what he wants it to be.
“There’s a period of transition that’s coming up, and we’re going to be aggressive…as an organization,” Kroenke said. “And continue to be aggressive until we feel we have the roster that truly can compete for something special.”
There are a number of different directions the Nuggets can go this offseason. Once the team hires a new coach, which should occur in the next couple of weeks, attention turns to what to do with the team’s No. 7 pick in the June 25 draft.
Expect the Nuggets to be active in pushing to upgrade the talent level of the team.
“Your job each year is to put as competitive a team together each year as you can, along with a bigger picture towards something possible at the end,” Kroenke said. “Honestly, I think people fall back on the term ‘blow up’ too easily. I always just say ‘retool.’ We’re going to keep tinkering until we have the group we feel can compete going forward. Whether that’s through the draft, or we create space going forward, or what.”
There remains plenty of interest in some of the Nuggets’ talent.
“I think that based on the number of calls that we got at the trade deadline and two already since the offseason has started, I think there’s a lot of value for our guys out there,” Kroenke said. “What we want are guys that want to be here and want to get better. Those are two pretty good traits for us to start from.”
Follow Chris Dempsey on Twitter @dempseypost or email him at cdempsey@denverpost.com
