The Timberwolves finished the season, but the Nuggets’ repeat attempt was problematic from the start. They must now make painful decisions in order to restore their dynastic dreams.
The Denver Nuggets’ dream of winning two championships in a row has come to an end. However, for their general manager, going back-to-back was never the first priority.
“I just want dudes that we try to develop, and it’s sustainable,” Nuggets General Manager Calvin Booth told me last August. “If it costs us the opportunity to win a championship this season, then be it. It’s a worthwhile investment. It is more important to win three out of six, three out of seven, and four out of eight than to try to go back-to-back.”
This phrase comes from a piece released on opening night about the Nuggets’ ambitions to establish a dynasty. There was real hope that Nikola Jokic could lead the Nuggets to back-to-back championships, becoming the first team to do so since the Warriors in 2017 and 2018. Denver was the apparent favorite to win it all again, despite losing two key rotation players, Bruce Brown and Jeff Green, to free agency. However, only rookies and journeyman vets were added to fill in the voids. With the new collective bargaining agreement posing significant team-building obstacles for teams far above the luxury tax, recruiting young players seemed like a fair strategy. However, many pointed out that the Nuggets lacked depth.
