ESPN Analyst Gives Nuggets Excellent Offseason Grade After Multiple Moves
It has been a busy offseason for the Denver Nuggets as they have made multiple changes to their roster to chase another championship next season.
Of course, the Nuggets have been eliminated in the second round of the playoffs over the last two seasons after winning the title behind Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon in 2023.
Denver began the offseason by trading Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Cameron Johnson as they added a three-point sharpshooter to their lineup and also freed up cap space.
With their extra cap space, the Nuggets signed Tim Hardaway Jr. and reunited with Bruce Brown, who played a key role for them during their championship run in 2023, while also landing Jonas Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings for Dario Saric.
With these moves, ESPN's Kevin Pelton gave the Nuggets an A- offseason grade.
'After the dust cleared, Denver's offseason resulted in the strongest Nuggets team on paper since they won the 2023 title, highlighted by swapping Michael Porter Jr. for Cameron Johnson at the cost of a valuable 2032 unprotected first-rounder,' Pelton wrote.
Pelton makes a great point about how the Nuggets' roster looks to be the best they have had since their championship season in 2023.
Of course, the Nuggets have struggled with their bench unit over the past few seasons but with the additions of Hardaway Jr., Valanciunas and Brown, they clearly made it a priority to upgrade their depth this summer.
While that may be the case, they will likely not be bringing back Russell Westbrook who played a key role for them off the bench last season.
Because of this, the Nuggets do lack a true backup point guard, though Brown could fill that role next season.
With these moves, the Nuggets will now enter next season as a clear contender in the Western Conference with Jokic leading the way as they try to capitalize on another championship.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sound familiar? Bengals starting offense looks great while defense struggles in preseason opener
The Cincinnati Bengals have gotten off to some terrible starts in the regular seasons under Zac Taylor, so they changed things up. The starters played on both sides of the ball, which hasn't been the case very often since Joe Burrow was drafted. And everything looked just like it did by the end of last season in Cincinnati. That's good news and bad news. The Bengals offense got the ball first against the Philadelphia Eagles and was sharp. Joe Burrow completed 6-of-7 passes on the Bengals' first drive for 71 yards. He hit Ja'Marr Chase three times for 41 yards. Running back Chase Brown looked sharp too. Burrow finished the drive with a 12-yard touchdown to Tanner Hudson. Cincinnati's offense looked great, just like it did last season. Then on Cincinnati's second drive, Burrow was sharp again and hit Chase on a pass that Chase turned upfield for a 36-yard touchdown. They made it look easy. Cincinnati's starting offense as pulled after two series. The Bengals' defense didn't have similar results. This wasn't the Super Bowl-winning Eagles offense the Bengals were facing. None of the Eagles' starters played. And the Eagles moved the ball easily against what was most of the Bengals' projected starting defense. Will Shipley, vying to be Saquon Barkley's primary backup this season, broke a 38-yard run. Jalen Hurts' backup Tanner McKee hit both of his passes to Jahan Dotson for 27 yards. McKee punched in a touchdown on a tush push. The Eagles got a field goal on their second drive, as the Bengals still had a handful of projected defensive starters on the field. Cincinnati's defense was a problem last season and the biggest reason the team missed the playoffs despite Burrow playing at an MVP level. If Thursday night's issues came against Hurts, Barkley, A.J. Brown and the rest of the Eagles' starters, that would be understandable. It wasn't great seeing it happen against McKee and Shipley. The Bengals changed coordinators in the offseason, firing Lou Anarumo and hiring Al Golden away from Notre Dame. But the personnel has been short, with last season's NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson sitting out as he tries to get a raise. It will take some time to adjust to a new scheme, especially if Hendrickson remains out of the lineup, but it wasn't a good start for Cincinnati's defense. The Bengals offense looked ready for the regular season, and being sharp to start the season was the reason the starters were on the field in Philly. But getting the starters some reps led to continued questions about whether the defense will be any better.
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Colts' QB Anthony Richardson ruled out vs. Ravens with injury
On the Indianapolis Colts' second possession on offense against the Baltimore Ravens, quarterback Anthony Richardson was hit hard on a sack. He exited the game holding his right throwing arm. Richardson was seen trying to grip the ball on the sideline prior to the Colts' third possession, but Jones took over as the quarterback. The team then announced that Richardson would not be returning to the game due to a finger injury. Facing a 2nd-and-10, Richardson took the snap while Ravens' outside linebacker David Ojabo came in untouched off the edge. Richardson was looking to his left while Ojabo came from his right and hit him for the sack. Daniel Jones then came on the field for the next play. With the Colts in a 3rd-and-18 following the sack, Jones handed it off, and the team then punted. On the Colts' first offensive possession, Richardson was 2-for-3 passing for 21 yards. This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts vs. Ravens: Anthony Richardson ruled out due to injury
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Is Micah Parsons serious about wanting a trade?
Six days ago, Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons posted a public trade request. The next day, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones called BS on it being a real request. As we close in on the one-week anniversary of the making of the request, is it real? Although Jones shrugged at the trade request, Bobby Belt of 105.3 The Fan recently said that "a lot of people around the Cowboys" believe it's not a bluff. "I don't think it's lost, but it's in need of repair," Belt said regarding Parsons's relationship with the team. "The way things are currently, they want out. The Cowboys have to be the ones to extend the olive branch and say, 'Hey, we'll fix this.'" Belt said he spoke to agent David Mulugheta, who first raised with the team a desire to do a new deal for Parsons after the 2023 season. The Cowboys wanted to wait. Eighteen months later, they're still waiting. In the interim, of course, Jones came to the conclusion that a handshake deal was done. Parsons disagrees. Regardless, the two sides need to talk or nothing will get done. Which brings us back to the question of whether the Cowboys hope to kick the can until 2026, and to pay Parsons only $24 million in 2025. If that's what Jones wants to do, it makes sense to not be talking.
