The Nuggets want no part of losing now and getting a high draft pick to win later.
“We are not rebuilding,” Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari said. “We are here to win.
“So that’s not in our vocabulary right now. We are here to win.”
The roster supports both approaches, split between players with experience and those new to the league. Six players come into the season in their first or second year in the NBA. The other nine begin this as at least their fourth year in the league.
Just what that all means in terms of wins and losses is anyone’s guess. Las Vegas oddsmakers have branded the Nuggets as one of the NBA’s worst teams, forecasting an over/under of victories at 27. That is not sitting well with a team that has two players who have played in the NBA Finals, one who has won titles and three more who have been to the playoffs.
“No one has us down to do nothing, and I think that’s great,” guard Randy Foye said, tongue firmly in cheek. “And that’s all I’m going to say about it. We’re not here to make no one, no media outlets, eat their words. No radio stations, TV stations, we’re not here to make them eat their words. We’re just here to work hard. So, let’s just go out and have fun and do it the right way.”
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STARTERS
No. 0 Emmanuel Mudiay
Position: PG
Age: 19
Height/weight: 6-5/200
2014-15 key stats: None
Outlook: Mudiay is the Nuggets’ most high-profile draftee since Carmelo Anthony back in 2003. Mudiay takes over the starting point guard spot from the departed Ty Lawson. Expectations are sky-high. Mudiay’s best attributes? His size, vision and ability to deliver the pass on time and accurately.
Mudiay played to rave reviews in the preseason. You’ll hear concerns about his shooting, but that hasn’t been as much of an issue as many predicted it would be. He will need to cut down on his turnovers, but he has proved to be a quick study and a willing — and eager — learner.
No. 14 Gary Harris
Position: SG
Age: 21
Height/weight: 6-4/210
2014-15 key stats: 3.4 points, 1.2 rebounds, 20.4 3-point percentage
Outlook: No Nuggets player has looked more improved from a year ago. Injected with a shot of confidence and a sturdier frame, Harris is looking to overcome a frustrating rookie season in which he did not shoot the ball well in the few opportunities he got.
Harris is arguably the Nuggets’ best perimeter defender, and he played that end with intensity during the exhibition season. The bonus is his steadily improving jump shot. He has been a big-time scorer in his basketball past, and he showed flashes of getting back to that, hitting 40 percent from the 3-point line and 44.8 percent from the field in the preseason.
No. 8 Danilo Gallinari
Position: SF
Age: 27
Height/weight: 6-10/225
2014-15 key stats: 12.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Outlook: He has his first rehab-free summer in two years and appears primed for a big season. He began rounding into form late last season, when he went on a tear after the all-star break.
Expect to see Gallinari play a much bigger role on offense than in past seasons. He’ll play off the ball; he’ll play on the ball. He’ll be counted on as a decision-maker in pick-and-roll situations. He is growing into an effective rebounder and has always been an underrated defender. If the Nuggets do big things this season, Gallinari will have a big hand in the success.
No. 35 Kenneth Faried
Position: PF
Age: 25
Height/weight: 6-8/228
2014-15 key stats: 12.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 50.7 percent shooting
Outlook: The Nuggets’ new television ads feature the slogan “It’s a new day.” There may be no player who takes that to heart more than Faried. The power forward is healthy, and most important, he’s happy under new coach Michael Malone.
In training camp, the new Manimal exhibited leadership, relentless hustle and a burning desire to help turn his team’s fortunes around. Offensively, expect Faried to be devastating in rolling to the rim in pick-and-roll situations, and he has displayed the beginnings of a solid 15-foot jump shot.
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No. 77 Joffrey Lauvergne
Position: PF/C
Age: 24
Height/weight: 6-11/220
2014-15 key stats: 3.9 points, 3.2 rebounds 40.4 percent shooting
Outlook: No player had a bigger learning curve last season than Lauvergne. Not expected to join the team until after last season, he was able to wriggle out of the contract with his Russian club team and join the Nuggets in February. And he struggled in limited action in 24 games.
Now he’s comfortable. Now he’s playing with the physical nature he was always said to have. And playing in one system — even if it has just been a few months — has done wonders for his game. He’ll be the primary starter at center until Jusuf Nurkic returns from rehabbing his knee. Lauvergne shot over 70 percent in the preseason.
Bench
No. 1 Jameer Nelson
Position: PG
Age: 33
Height/weight: 6-0/190
2014-15 key stats: 9.6 points, 3.7 assists
Outlook: Outside of drafting Mudiay, getting Nelson to return to the team was the catch of the summer for the Nuggets. He helped stabilize a shaky locker room last season and will reprise that role. But he’s also a capable player who approaches the game with smarts and a deadly 3-point shot. He’ll be the primary reserve at point guard.
No. 4 Randy Foye
Position: SG
Age: 32
Height/weight: 6-4/213
2014-15 key stats: 8.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 35.7 3-point percentage
Outlook: A hot start for Foye last season was derailed by an injured quadriceps. This preseason, he has dealt with an injured hamstring, keeping him out of the bulk of practices and games. But he’ll start the season available to play, and when he’s right, he can be the Nuggets’ best pure shooter.
No. 21 Wilson Chandler
Position: SF
Age: 28
Height/weight: 6-8/225
2014-15 key stats: 13.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Outlook: Chandler made headlines in the summer when he penned an open letter to the city of Denver, proclaiming his love for the town and the organization as the reasons he signed a contract extension. The feeling is mutual from the team. Chandler can do a little bit of everything, and he’ll be asked to play the small and power forward spots, maybe even some shooting guard. He continues to be a threat to score 20 points on any given night and gives the Nuggets length defensively on the perimeter.
No. 5 Will Barton
Position: SG/SF
Age: 24
Height/weight: 6-6/175
2014-15 key stats: 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 steals
Outlook: Malone calls Will Barton a jack-of-all-trades, and Barton relishes the term. He’ll do whatever is asked and showed last season he can fill up the stat sheet. This preseason, Barton played everything from the point to power forward.
No. 15 Nikola Jokic
Position: PF/C
Age: 20
Height/weight: 6-10/250
2014-15 key stats: None
Outlook: It’s difficult for a player to exceed already high expectations, but to this point Jokic has done just that. He arrived in July to a team that was excited to see what he could do, and he has impressed Malone. He has displayed a soft touch in the lane, smarts with the ball at the top of the key and the ability to shoot all the way out to 3-point range. He rebounds his area well and is an improving defender. He’ll play rotation minutes at the start of the season, but those may fade when Jusuf Nurkic returns.
No. 00 Darrell Arthur
Position: PF
Age: 27
Height/weight: 6-9/235
2014-15 key stats: 6.6 points, 2.9 rebounds
Outlook: The Nuggets’ defense has been better the last couple of seasons when Arthur is on the court. The problem has been keeping Arthur on the court. Injuries have nagged at him just enough that even if he doesn’t miss the game, he’s playing at a severe disadvantage because of nagging injures. This season, health is again the biggest concern.
No. 7 J.J. Hickson
Position: PF/C
Age: 27
Height/weight: 6-9/242
2014-15 key stats: 7.6 points, 6.2 rebounds
Outlook: Hickson has lived out the bulk of his career as one of the most underappreciated players on any roster he has been on. This Nuggets team is no different. When given enough minutes, Hickson can be a double-double machine. But the numbers game in the Nuggets’ frontcourt looks to limit his time.
No. 23 Jusuf Nurkic
Position: C
Age: 21
Height/weight: 7-0/280
2014-15 key stats: 6.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.1 blocks
Outlook: Nurkic was in the midst of turning in a solid rookie season when injuries to his ankle and knee derailed him. The knee injury turned out to be a torn patellar tendon, which he continues to rehab. He’s expected back sometime in November. When healthy, Nurkic projects to be the team’s starting center. He proved last season he could be effective at both ends of the court.
No. 23 Erick Green
Position: PG
Age: 24
Height/weight: 6-4/185
2014-15 key stats: 3.4 points, 37.7 percent shooting
Outlook: Green took a battle for the final roster spot all the way down to the end, but he earned it with inspired play. Green will be the team’s third point guard in his second season and has shown ever-improving confidence in his play, which has earned the trust of the coaches.
No. 3 Mike Miller
Position: SG/SF
Age: 35
Height/weight: 6-8/218
2014-15 key stats: 2.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, 32.7 3-point percentage
Outlook: He was the last player added to the mix a couple of days after training camp began in Colorado Springs, but his importance extends from the locker room to the court. Miller has already been a solid example of how to be a professional for the young players on the Nuggets roster. And yes, he can still bury a 3.
