After losing in the second round of the NBA playoffs to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Denver Nuggets are not quite ready to hit the panic button, although the way they have tried to maximize Nikola Jokic's prime has simply not worked.
Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray seem like long-term supporting players, and Michael Porter Jr. is the odd man out. While trading his massive contract to free up space is a possibility, Denver doesn't have many options.
DeMarcus Cousins offered a very simple course of action for Denver.
Nikola Jokic
Mar 8, 2019; Oakland, CA, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) attempts to dribble past Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins (0) in the third quarter at Oracle Arena.
© Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
The only true free agents Denver has this offseason are DeAndre Jordan and Vlatko Cancar. All of the other free agents have options, either player or team, and Cousins thinks the solution is very simple.
"That owner needs to spend some money," he said. "You got to spend to win. That's obvious. And I think they have to get a bench. I don't think they're I think they have to move their focus on making sure Jokic puts up these crazy numbers and leaves off the statistical category. Like we understand Jokic is great. We get it now, right? Now let's put some real talent around the guy. Let's put a bench around the guy."
With $162.7 million committed to Jokic, Murray, Gordon, and Porter Jr. next season, the Nuggets have spent money, saving almost nothing for depth pieces.
With the second apron fast approaching, Denver doesn't have the luxury of simply throwing money at the problem, and unless they can trade Porter Jr., they will have basically the same roster next season.
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