The NBA Finals are finally set, and in a bit of a surprising twist, the Indiana Pacers will be taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder. There are many possible takeaways and revelations to draw from this Finals matchup, and a lot of them can be directly applied to the Nuggets and what they need to do going forward.
These playoffs have laid out a clear blueprint for what it takes to win in the modern NBA: reliable two-way depth. Both of these teams have it in spades, and it has defined their runs. The days of building teams around two or three mega-stars seem to be over for now, and the era of versatility and lack of weaknesses is here.
The Thunder and Pacers can each play more than 10 players in any single game. They have optionality and the ability to change styles, sizes, and schemes at the drop of a hat. Both teams can play big, small, they can space the floor with shooters, and they can throw waves of defenders at you.
Perhaps as importantly, there are no weak links on either side. These teams have enough options that if someone becomes a liability in any way, they simply don’t play anymore. The pace that both teams hit you with, the Pacers with their relentless offense and the Thunder with their swarming defense, has been incredible to watch and [looks unlike anything that the Nuggets can do consistently.](https://nugglove.com/glaring-holes-nuggets-must-address-win-championship-2025-26)
Nuggets must bolster depth with 2-way role players
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The Nuggets have run out of gas in the second round of the playoffs in back-to-back years, and it’s clear they must change their approach. Watching the team struggle to field a five-man lineup by the end of the OKC series was brutal, and these issues must finally be rectified this offseason.
It likely starts with trading a [highly paid player (almost certainly Michael Porter Jr.)](https://nugglove.com/champion-forward-must-traded-nuggets-before-draft) and turning his $38+ million contract into two or three role players. This won’t be easy, but the new front office will have to be shrewd and diligent, finding a way to maximize MPJ’s value and bring back players who can shoot and defend.
Perhaps, the Nuggets’ starting lineup gets slightly worse, but if it leads to an eight-man rotation of guys that can defend and score around Nikola Jokic, it may give them a better chance to compete on a nightly basis come playoff time.
Obviously, it’s easier said than done to build a deep team full of good two-way players, but that’s the assignment these days. The hard part is done with the star, core players; now they need to hit on the margins and build the rest of the roster, and the Nuggets should be in business.