Opinion | No Malone. No MPJ. No More Excuses for the Nuggets
Michael Porter Jr. on the mic was always a spectacle. Michael Malone, meanwhile, often simmered with frustration. With both now gone, the Denver Nuggets feel lighter, sharper, and far more dangerous. This isn’t a rebuild—it’s a cleansing. The paranoia, the tension, and the paper-thin bench of last season have been replaced with depth and optimism.
Back in May, it looked like Denver would simply “run it back,” hoping coach David Adelman could sprinkle magic on an aging, injury-prone roster. Four months later, everything has shifted. New general managers Jon Wallace and Ben Tenzer pulled off a trade that reignited championship expectations. Those hopes only grew with Fred VanVleet’s season-ending injury in Houston, questions about OKC’s stamina, and the Nuggets placing six players in ESPN’s NBA Rank Top 100.
This is the deepest roster Nikola Jokić has ever had—and his best shot at another title. Yes, he has four prime years left, but he may never get a better opportunity. Jonas Valančiūnas, ranked No. 87, is now his backup. That’s a massive upgrade from past reserves who struggled to log minutes, let alone produce. For once, Jokić will be fresh when the playoffs arrive.
The offseason began with subtraction. Porter Jr. deserves credit for gutting through three back surgeries and helping deliver a championship, but he wanted the offense to revolve around him. His exit has been accompanied by off-court revelations and even his own uncertainty about continuing his career. Brooklyn’s decision to make him a culture-setter while tanking raises eyebrows. If his departure leads to another Nuggets title, Wallace and Tenzer will deserve statues.
Malone, too, merited a proper farewell. But he also bears responsibility for last season’s toxic atmosphere, fueled by distrust of former GM Calvin Booth. His irritability seeped into the locker room until players tuned him out. Two years ago, Malone and MPJ were what Denver needed. Today, Adelman and Cameron Johnson are the right fit.
Johnson, ranked No. 67, isn’t the shooter Porter was, but he’s smarter, more versatile defensively, and selfless—qualities that echo Aaron Gordon’s impact. Durability is the only question. Adelman, meanwhile, has already won over the locker room. Whether his merit-based approach holds up in the grind of January remains to be seen, but the players’ loyalty gives him a real chance.
Wallace’s influence has also revitalized Jamal Murray, who’s in peak condition and thriving as a leader with younger teammates. The bench, once a glaring weakness, now features underrated additions like Tim Hardaway Jr. on a veteran minimum deal—perfect for Jokić-created spot-up threes—and the return of Bruce Brown, who, though diminished by injuries, remains a trusted reserve. Add in the growth of Jalen Pickett, Julian Strawther, and Peyton Watson, and Adelman suddenly has options.
The Nuggets aren’t guaranteed to topple OKC or Minnesota, but they match up with anyone in the West. Against the East? No contest. Last year proved that even with Jokić averaging a triple-double, Denver needed more. Now they have it: better shooting, deeper rotations, and far less drama.
Jokić turns 31 in February. He won’t be the league’s best player forever—Victor Wembanyama may seize that crown soon. But for now, Denver has solved every problem that plagued them: fatigue, tension, lack of spacing. Jokić is still here, still in his prime, and finally surrounded by the right mix of talent and leadership.
This is his moment. And likely his last, best chance to win another title in Denver.
