2014-2015 in Review
After a 30-52 finish to the 2014-2015 season, the Denver Nuggets ridded themselves of several personnel that had become distractions in the locker room. Former head coach Brian Shaw, who butted heads with Ty Lawson, was fired mid-season. The coaching change did not right the ship, however, and the Nuggets finished fourth in the Northwest Division.
New Additions
Emmanuel Mudiay
The seventh overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft, Mudiay comes over from China as a young point guard with a whole lot of potential. The 19 year-old will develop under Jameer Nelson who, in his eleventh season in the league, returned to the team that drafted him. Mudiay brings a 6'5" stature that could largley facilitate his transition into the NBA. The Nuggets got their man in Mudiay and have the depth at point guard that will allow them to be patient with his development.
Michael Malone
After Brian Shaw was fired back in March, the Nuggets began the search for their next head coach. Malone, who was fired by the Sacramento Kings last season, will take the reins. Malone is 39-67 as a head coach in the NBA dating back to 2014.
Key Losses
Ty Lawson
Lawson led the team in points (15.2ppg) and assists (9.6apg) last season, but began to gain recognition around the league for the wrong reasons. Lawson butted heads with his former head coach but, after the Nuggets drafted Mudiay, it was clear Lawson was not part of the team's future, either. Mudiay, along with Nelson, will make the transition easy as the Nuggets look to move up in the Northwest.
Biggest Strength
Size
The thought of Mudiay at point guard is reminiscent of Magic Johnson and could be just the tip of the iceberg in Denver. Aside from the rookie, the Nuggets are not oversized at guard. But the 6'10" Danilo Gallinari creates many mismatches at small forward.
Gallinari can shoot the long ball, a big reason he has averaged double-digit scoring the past five seasons. Behind him is Wilson Chandler, a 6'8" veteran who is a seriously viable backup. At the other forward is big Kenneth Faried, whose 6'8" stature is belittled by his tenacious dunking ability. The Nuggets' two young centers coincide with the rest of the roster but, at 6'11" and 6'10", Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Jokic, respectively, have the size to compete in the NBA post.
Biggest Weakness
Lack of Star Power
The Nuggets have several veterans who have gained recognition over the past several seasons for their explosive playmaking abilities. And while there are several viable fantasy picks on this roster, there is not one player that truly stands out as a star.
In fact, only one player on the team has ever been to an All-Star game, which came back in the 2008-2009 season when Jameer Nelson represented the Orlando Magic. While the Nuggets are hopeful of breakout seasons from Kenneth Faried and, potentially, Emmanuel Mudiay, Michael Malone will have to focus on team chemistry.
Bottom Line
The Nuggets will have trouble with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the division, but a weakened Portland Trail Blazers roster has opened up a range of possibilities. The Western Conference will remain highly competitive, but the Nuggets have the potential to finish as high as second in the Northwest Division. Surrounded by several developing teams in the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz, the Nuggets have the benefit of doubt to make a splash in the division. Still, they do not have enough to qualify for the postseason.
Fantasy Slant
Most overrated: Kenneth Faried
Faired's ferocious dunking skills largely overshadow his fantasy value. While he has the ability to drop 30 on occasion, he is more often held under the ten-point mark. That inconsistency can also be seen in his rebounding, with the occasional near-twenty board performance looming over the more frequent single-digit rebounding efforts. Faried ranked eighth in rebounds among forwards last season, but it is important to be extra cautious in Daily Fantasy leagues depending on the Nuggets' matchup.
Most underrated: Randy Foye
Foye didn't crack the top 100 in any category among guards last season, aside from blocks. However, the soon-to-be 33 year-old can still put the ball in the hoop and was able to score double-digits frequently down the stretch last season. Not only that, Foye is effective in nearly all facets of the game and can get you points with assists and rebounds.
He approached a triple-double in several of the Nuggets' final regular season games in 2014-2015, including a 16-point, eight-assist, seven-rebound performance in their regular season finale against the Los Angeles Clippers. Foye is also a good defender and can rack up steals. Keep an eye on the Nugget's guard and how he adjusts to life without Lawson.
Biggest surprise: Danilo Gallinari
A proficient scorer in this league, what you may not know is Gallinari had several 40-point performances last season and come close to a double-double on both occasions. The 6'10" forward is a great shooter, especially from deep, and uses his height to gain a rebounding advantage. He is a great double-whammy that can get you some serious points if he's feeling it. With a restructured lineup, Gallinari has the potential to be the top scorer for the Nuggets this season.