The last few months have been rather odd for the Denver Nuggets.

Denver entered the playoffs as true contenders, only to be comfortably defeated in the first round by an injury-ravaged Minnesota Timberwolves squad. Since then, nearly every player on the roster, outside of Nikola Jokić, continues to be involved in trade rumors.

In March, the Nuggets were a true threat. Now, fans have no idea who will even be in their starting lineup next year.

They could bring back Peyton Watson or let him walk. They could trade either Christian Braun or Cameron Johnson to make room for Watson, or to move on from either. Frankly, dealing Jamal Murray or Aaron Gordon for another star is also in the cards for the Nuggets. Simply put, as of now, it’s anyone’s guess what the final roster will look like.

However, starting lineups don’t win championships alone. Depth does. Here’s an updated look at all the rumors regarding Denver’s starting five and their bench. Or, more accurately, who the Nuggets could add to it.

The State of the Denver Nuggets’ Bench

Last season, the Nuggets’ bench unit included Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., Peyton Watson, Spencer Jones, and Jonas Valančiūnas. Meanwhile, Julian Strawther, Zeke Nnaji, and others were sprinkled in here and there.

Unfortunately, due to a variety of injuries, this unit was often incomplete. Watson missed significant time due to injury. Jones only began playing in his absence. So, evaluating them at face value is tricky.

Regardless of whether Watson stays or leaves, it is highly unlikely he comes off the bench next year. The odds of Denver keeping Watson, along with Braun, Johnson, and Gordon, seem implausible. As of now, Strawther would likely take Watson’s bench spot.

Overall, that’s still a decent bench, but it’s not perfect.

Strawther has been inconsistent, Brown isn’t a true point guard, and nobody in the unit is a true shot creator. There’s also the fact that Hardaway and Brown are currently unrestricted free agents, while Jones is a restricted free agent. Neither of the aforementioned trio is guaranteed to be on the team next year. So, what can Denver do to secure a championship-caliber bench unit?

Bruce Brown’s Uncertain Future with the Nuggets

Denver Nuggets fans love Brown. He played a crucial role as the sixth man on Denver’s 2023 championship team. His aggressive defense, solid shooting, and overall fun personality continue to make him a fan favorite.

However, his future may not align with Denver’s or the NBA’s.

Looking at team building, two archetypes of backup guards are becoming increasingly popular in the league. The first kind is the true sixth-man type that can create their own shots and put points on the board. For example, Dylan Harper, Ayo Dosunmu, and Payton Pritchard. The other type is a true point guard who hustles, defends, and makes plays. Players like Jose Alvarado, T.J. McConnell, and Cason Wallace come to mind.

Unfortunately, Brown lacks the scoring ability required to enter the first team. He also lacks the ball handling and passing to enter the second. 

Potential New Guard Options for the Nuggets

Naturally, Denver could look into getting a new guard to replace Brown. Unfortunately, the team has so much money tied up with their starters that, as of now, they will not be able to pay much for any bench player.

When filtering by guards they can afford, the list of guys better than Brown becomes quite small. At a certain point, it may make sense to bring him back. Still, there may be some available veterans or unproven players willing to take a smaller deal who could fulfill that backup guard role.

One player Denver could afford who falls into the second tier of guards is Jordan Goodwin.

Goodwin played a crucial role as a backup guard for the Phoenix Suns. He played a career-high 70 games and averaged 8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. As a true point guard and a better ball handler, he could be a solid addition for the Nuggets.

The only catch: the Suns may not be too eager to let him go. Reports indicate negotiations are already underway between Goodwin and Phoenix.

Another interesting name for the Nuggets is Jordan Clarkson. The former Sixth Man of the Year has been one of the best bench scorers over the last decade.

He wasn’t as ball-dominant on the New York Knicks. That said, he can still be a go-to scorer in a limited role, if needed. Additionally, he substantially improved his defense and rebounding in New York. With Clarkson heading into his age-34 season, the Nuggets could easily get him to take a smaller deal.

Denver Needs More Help on the Wing

The Denver Nuggets’ wing situation remains incredibly tricky.

Strawther is under contract for next season, but he’s not shown the ability to be a consistent contributor. Meanwhile, Hardaway Jr. just had a phenomenal season. He finished third in 6MOTY voting and averaged 13.5 points per game on over 40% shooting from three. Hardaway Jr. played so well, in fact, that he will likely go elsewhere to collect money, which the Nuggets cannot afford to give.

Thankfully for Denver, the team found a diamond in the rough in Spencer Jones, whom they will likely bring back.

That leaves the Nuggets with whatever they decide to do at point guard, plus Strawther and Jones. Clearly, they need more help.

One interesting option for Denver could be Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade. By no means is he a prolific scorer, but he brings tenacious defense, consistent rebounding, and solid shooting. Without Watson and Gordon against Minnesota, Denver’s lack of physicality proved to be a major weakness. Considering Denver may not be entering the season with both, Wade perfectly supplements that need.

Another interesting target is Khris Middleton of the Dallas Mavericks.

Middleton is coming off the last year of his three-year, $93 million contract. However, at age 34 and with a long history of injuries, he will not be commanding that amount of money this offseason.

Middleton would bring much-needed shot creation, three-point shooting, defense, and a veteran presence to the Nuggets. Having spent the last two years in disastrous situations in Washington and Dallas, it’s somewhat forgotten how much of a contributor he could be on a winning team. He was even once rumored to join Denver last season. If given a shot, he could put his two-way talent back on display.

Other wings Denver could look into are Josh Okogie, Keon Ellis, and Matisse Thybulle. All are solid role players who can defend at a high level and knock down threes.

The Center of Attention

The Denver Nuggets’ bench lineup will likely appear in one of two ways. One is with Brown, Jones, a free agent, then either Strawther or free agent number two. The other is a free agent point guard, another free agent, Strawther, and Jones. Either way, positions one through four will be addressed in these scenarios. But what about the center spot?

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As of now, Denver has Valančiūnas under contract for one more year at $10 million. The Nuggets are strongly likely to waive him.

Valančiūnas played his role well last season, but Denver can find someone else to protect the rim in limited minutes for way less money. Additionally, the Nuggets will need to save every penny they can. On that note, they are still suffering the consequences of Zeke Nnaji’s four-year, $32 million contract, which still has two years left. Expect Denver to do everything it can to move on from both.

Doing so would only leave DaRon Holmes II, Denver’s 2024 first-round pick, backing up Jokic. Holmes II missed his entire rookie season due to injury, then spent his sophomore year as a backup to the backups. He is young, athletic, and dependable around the rim. Most importantly, Holmes II remains on a cheap deal for the next two years.

Assuming the Nuggets move on from Nnaji and Valančiūnas, they’ll probably let Holmes and an incoming veteran center compete for the primary backup five role.

Nick Richards is a perfect option. Richards is a better rim protector than other targets around his price range, like Andre Drummond, Jock Landale, or Thomas Bryant. All Denver needs is someone cheap who can contest shots and grab boards while Jokić is off the floor. Richards can do exactly that. Holmes is definitely a flashier option with more upside, but Richards is a perfect safety net for the Nuggets.

Building Out the Nuggets’ Bench

Denver Nuggets’ fans will be waiting on pins and needles until July 6th, when free agent contracts can officially be signed. Until then, theories and projections remain.

Though bringing him back is unlikely, the Nuggets should do everything they can to keep Hardaway Jr., as he was tremendous last season. They have no excuse not to bring back Jones, as he was also fantastic, and doing so will not break the bank. Without Hardaway Jr., Denver should really consider Middleton or perhaps Thybulle to supplement their shooting. Middleton’s shot creation is a massive bonus. Goodwin would also be a solid get as a true point guard. The same goes for Richards at center.

Don’t be surprised, though, if Denver decides to stay quiet in free agency. If they want to add new players, there are plenty of options, as previously mentioned. But the Nuggets may opt to stay in-house.

Jalen Pickett has been consistently developing for the Nuggets. He’ll be in contention for the backup point guard role. Similarly, this could finally be the year Strawther steps up and claims a solid role in the rotation. Holmes, as a former first-rounder, could also attempt to unlock some of his potential next season.

Denver enters the offseason as a team full of question marks. There are countless ways the franchise could attack this offseason. Nevertheless, fans and the media will stay focused on the starters, but don’t forget that benches win championships, too.

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