Nuggets of Glory

What happens when a team has all of its major players overseas? Cassie DiLaura sheds some light on what could happen to the Nuggets if and when the NBA lockout ends.

After ESPN's extremely vigorous process of codifying the NBA’s best 500 players, 16 Denver Nuggets appeared on the list–10 outside the Top 100 and six within. For the Nuggets, a team that placed fifth in the Western Conference with a record of 50-32 last season, the fate of the upcoming season, whenever it may be, depends on an incomplete roster valued at $35.7 million.

(David Herrera/Creative Commons)

The Nuggets have just four players without contracts for the 2011-2012 season: Andre Miller, Al Harrington, Chris Andersen, and Kosta Koufos. The Nuggets most critical weakness now is not the fact that they have no depth, no low-post play, or no identity, but the fact that they have an unconfirmed roster. Danilo Gallinari is playing in Italy, Ty Lawson is in Lithuania, and Timofey Mozgov is in Russia. Although these three players have opt-out clauses if the NBA season starts, Wilson Chandler, a restricted free agent, is playing in China without one. Denver’s Melvin Ely is also playing in China. 

Once the Collective Bargaining Agreement is settled, the Nuggets can make some quick decisions whether or not to sign the team's two first round draft picks, Kenneth Faried and Jordan Hamilton. With the addition of Faried and Hamilton, the Nuggets will consist of 12 players without much open space to add more key pieces to the roster. Along with Faried and Hamilton, the Nuggets need to make decisions on their restricted free agents such as Chandler, Arron Afflalo and Gary Forbes. However, the fate of the Nuggets keeping Chandler remains up in the air because of his salary cap hit. Plus, the Nuggets may not keep Nene Hilario, considering he turned down a $50 million extension. If Afflalo and J.R. Smith are not brought back, the Nuggets will be forced to find quick replacements at shooting guard, and there will be a need for a power forward if Nene isn’t re-signed.

Denver’s potential roster brings a decent amount of talent to the court. Kosta Koufos finished the last three games of the previous season with an average of 14.3 points and 7 rebounds, shooting 72% from the floor with an average of only 21 minutes per game. Denver’s team consists of a group of fresh and not so fresh talent with Ely, who has 8 professional years under his belt and Harrington, with 13, alongside rookies Faried and Hamilton. Harrington and Ely can provide the Nuggets with an average of 15 points per game, provided they live up to their usual totals. 

With players overseas, millions of dollars on the line, and an incomplete roster, the fate of the season for the Denver Nuggets looks just as promising as the NBA season during the lockout.