Nuggets 2023 Presser

[TheSyndicate]

Wow, already 2023. My how the time flies. It seems like just yesterday I was writing last year's presser...What's that, you say? I didn't write a presser last year? I guess I'll have to do an overview of the last couple years.

Last year, we were really able to do some amazing things. We came into the season with $90m in committed salary which was comprised of Jrue Holiday, DeAndre Jordan, and about 400 y/g guys with attribute totals that ranged from 'he might be an interesting player some day' to 'he will not be an interesting player some day'. We also had Marcus Smart - an excellent defensive contributor - as an impending free agent. Our problem, we knew, was filling out a competitive team with the very few shekels we had left in the coffers, and finding SOMEONE who could put the ball in the basket.

Our first move was to draft Jerry West with the 2nd pick. Jerry has been dedicated to hard work and has been progressing through the seasons very well. He will be our starter at the 2 this coming season and we expect him to be among the league's leading scorers in his prime.

Next we re-signed Smart to a 4 year deal we hoped would make him palatable for the trade market, as well as several other complimentary bench pieces.

Then came a trade that set the wheels in motion for a complete roster transformation. We knew we needed to cash in some of our interesting prospects for some pieces that we could rely on being productive. We sent 5 (5!) of them to the Wizards in exchange for Aubrey Broomfield - an excellent and athletic 2-way forward - along with two of their first-round picks. We weren't sure at this point whether we'd be in for a long rebuild, or an extension of our competitive window, but the return fit either plan.

Still needing offensive firepower, we swung a Day-60 trade to send the aforementioned Marcus Smart to Indiana along with free-agent signing (and admittedly interesting prospect) Jamey Brown for an immediate offensive boost in the form of Paul George - and his player option.

On February 1, we sat at 26-19, not a bad record, but nowhere near a championship team, and our defensive anchor DeAndre had just broken a limb. We had to make a change and acquire a piece that would be part of our next build (or at least would garner solid rebuild pieces if traded). We once again reached out to the Wizards for Otto Porter Jr, who has been a player we've coveted since he came into the league. In exchange for the hobbled DeAndre and his pick this year to reclaim a lost season, he graciously sent Otto as well as Simmons who could play a competent 5 in DJ's stead.

This offseason, we continued to develop West, we found ourselves with enough cap space for several pieces to put around a still inexpensive West, and our desire was to make a splash in RFA (and UFA if we missed out). We signed JR Johnson and Judd Williams in RFA. We would have been thrilled to build around the core of those two and West. Unfortunately, their respective teams were not interested in discussing trades to keep them around, so they were both matched.

In Free Agency, we added an unbelievably huge piece of the puzzle in Thomas Robinson. We really feel like he can lock down the 4 spot (and maybe even the 5 depending on which direction we go with any subsequent moves) and together with Otto means our forward duo will lock the boards out for any other team. This will give our scorers more chances than other teams, which will hopefully result in more points than other teams.

We had hoped to pair him with Kevin Love, and made him a sizable offer, however he chose to remain with the team he'd been with his whole career in Phoenix. We wish him all the best in the desert. Oh...we just got word that Love was traded last night to the city of brotherly LOVE. How fitting!

With that cap space, we were also able to add a guard whom we hope will be part of the build that brings our team to the promised land.

We went from a team over the tax with 3 aging core players, to a team under the tax with all our picks (and another next year), a core of 2 prime players, a young player coming into his own, and some wily vets, that should not only compete this year but also have a look to the future. We like what the future looks like.

[JNR]

GWR: How are West and Duren getting along? They both seem to be incredibly similar players.

[false9]

I don't see one mention of your biggest free agent signing. Was that intentional?

[TheSyndicate]

GWR: How are West and Duren getting along? They both seem to be incredibly similar players.

In parlance that you would understand, they're SUPERFRIENDS. They are incredibly similar, but a few key differences are:
1. Duren has excellent passing skills, he makes everyone on the team (including West) better while paying the 1.
2. Duren has experience, he's play-off tested, guys like West are feeding off of his knowledge.

[TheSyndicate]

I don't see one mention of your biggest free agent signing. Was that intentional?

With that cap space, we were also able to add a guard whom we hope will be part of the build that brings our team to the promised land.

I believe this is what you were looking for?

But seriously, we signed the favorite son of one of the teams we love going to battle against. No need rubbing it in. They'll probably beat us in the playoffs again anyways.

[false9]

I don't see one mention of your biggest free agent signing. Was that intentional?

With that cap space, we were also able to add a guard whom we hope will be part of the build that brings our team to the promised land.

I believe this is what you were looking for?

But seriously, we signed the favorite son of one of the teams we love going to battle against. No need rubbing it in. They'll probably beat us in the playoffs again anyways.

My mistake, thought you meant Nelson Stark

[TheSyndicate]

I don't see one mention of your biggest free agent signing. Was that intentional?

With that cap space, we were also able to add a guard whom we hope will be part of the build that brings our team to the promised land.

I believe this is what you were looking for?

But seriously, we signed the favorite son of one of the teams we love going to battle against. No need rubbing it in. They'll probably beat us in the playoffs again anyways.

My mistake, thought you meant Nelson Stark

Easy one to make, no worries.

[Xist2Inspire]

Random Reporter: With the departure of Love, arrival of a new guard, and continued growth of West, do you now see yourselves as one of the teams to beat in the West?

[digiskunk]

Nuggies! You guys have come a very long way, and were able to recuperate fairly quickly. I have a few questions: How do you anticipate Otto Porter fitting into the lineup — any statistical predictions? Furthermore, Jerry West and Jeffrey Duren are going to be an amazing pair. Do you guys feel that this squad is good enough to reach the finals?

[TheSyndicate]

Random Reporter: With the departure of Love, arrival of a new guard, and continued growth of West, do you now see yourselves as one of the teams to beat in the West?

One of the teams? Sure. I think that's fair. But we'll be in a 3-way dogfight for the division, and that's where our focus lies.

[TheSyndicate]

Nuggies! You guys have come a very long way, and were able to recuperate fairly quickly. I have a few questions: How do you anticipate Otto Porter fitting into the lineup — any statistical predictions? Furthermore, Jerry West and Jeffrey Duren are going to be an amazing pair. Do you guys feel that this squad is good enough to reach the finals?

Glad to have your approval, sir!

Otto is just awesome, he plays wherever he's needed. Barring any trades, we see him at the 3, but he could see time at the 4 or even 5 in the playoffs, or if we make any moves to improve our team. No statistical predictions, other than look for him to be on the rpg leaderboard at the end of the season.

I think we have enough talent to reach the finals, but there's a lot of games to be played between now and then. One injury, and it could be a lost season easy enough. We're hoping to win the division, and see what happens in the playoffs.

[garbageman]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: Your starting 5 is pretty obvious, but what about your 2nd unit? As any new GM who just took over the team with the best record would tell you, depth is key for strategies and tactics.

[NOLa.]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: Your starting 5 is pretty obvious, but what about your 2nd unit? As any new GM who just took over the team with the best record would tell you, depth is key for strategies and tactics.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TheSyndicate]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: Your starting 5 is pretty obvious, but what about your 2nd unit? As any new GM who just took over the team with the best record would tell you, depth is key for strategies and tactics.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey buddy

[TheSyndicate]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: Your starting 5 is pretty obvious, but what about your 2nd unit? As any new GM who just took over the team with the best record would tell you, depth is key for strategies and tactics.

Whelp.

It's pretty yellow right now. I'll be looking to improve the second unit without completely mortgaging the future throughout the season. I like Parish who can score a bit off the bench. Neeley is a fine PG stand-in. And I may have some other things in the works closer to Day 60 to improve the unit overall. I'm all ears if you have some ideas