Renck: Canceling a subscription should have been easier than upgrading the Nuggets roster. Those only take three phone calls, two weeks, remembering a secret password and an organ donation. But the two-headed monster of Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace navigated a land-locked roster by trading Michael Porter Jr and Dario Saric, landing Cam Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas, and signing Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. Instead of running it back, the GMs created a team capable of running over opponents in the playoffs. But are they really a threat to win another NBA title — behind Oklahoma City and Houston — when no one thinks they can even win the Western Conference?
Keeler: You know who thinks they’ve got a shot? Our good pal Charles Barkley. And if they’re good enough for the Chuckster, they’re good enough for me. When I asked Sir Charles last month if the Nuggets had narrowed the gap on the Thunder with their summer moves, he started gushing. “They probably had the best chance of beating OKC (in the postseason),” Barkley said, referring to Denver’s scrappy seven-game series loss in the Western Conference semis. “So it’s not like they were that far off.” Sure weren’t. And they’re even closer in August than they were in May. Gush away.
Renck: Typically, ESPN forgets Colorado teams exist. The respect for the Nuggets is refreshing. But misleading. Denver can beat Houston. The Rockets are too young, and their top offseason addition (Kevin Durant) is too old. The Nuggets’ problem? They must prove they can stare down OKC without flinching, and stop losing to Minnesota. It feels like Anthony Edwards is poised for an MVP season, especially if he learns how to draw fouls like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Nikola Jokic’s brilliance is a given. So much of the Nuggets returning to the NBA Finals hinges on Jamal Murray. Everything about his offseason suggests he is ready to deliver, but can we trust him?
Keeler: You want to. You really do. That 2023 title run? Murray scored 24 points or more 13 times for the Nuggets during those playoffs. Denver went 11-2 in those games. In the two years that have followed, he’s put up a stat line of 24 points or more just seven times — combined. (The Nuggets won five of those seven, naturally.) What was true in 2020 and 2023 hasn’t changed for 2026: The Nuggets’ playoff party will go on for as far as the Blue Arrow can carry it.
Renck: The Nuggets restored hope with their moves, creating versatility without compromising experience. Even the coaching staff is better. But as easy as it is to dismiss Gilgeous-Alexander as a free-throw merchant, he is dominant and every member of the rotation returns. The Timberwolves are scary. With the Eastern Conference a mess, the Nuggets deserve a No. 3 ranking. Murray getting hot and staying hot is the only way they are moving up two spots.
Keeler: The only other path? Insane depth. And by “insane,” we’re talking even more contributors than that great ’23 bunch had. The Thunder fielded 11 players, per Basketball-Reference.com, . The Nuggets last winter featured — no shock — just six. MPJ (6.4) and Cam Johnson (5.1) were relatively close. Denver flipped Dario Saric (0.0) for Jonas Valanciunas (2.1). They added Tim Hardaway Jr. (3.5) and Bruce Brown (0.2) as net gains, too. If we use last year’s production as a guide, the Nuggets now have at least eight players from the “2.0” club in ’24-25. The Rockets last season featured nine. Over the hump? Not yet. But the gap gets shorter by the day.
