Top 2016 Offseason Priorities for the Denver Nuggets

Following yet another middling campaign, the Denver Nuggets are missing out on postseason festivities for a third straight year. Denver finished with a 33-49 record, right in the dreaded purgatory of the NBA—neither good enough to make the playoffs nor bad enough to secure a top lottery draft pick.

This is a scary place for a franchise that racked up 10 consecutive postseason appearances under George Karl’s guidance prior to the drought. Fans don’t seem as engaged anymore, and the core of the team isn’t established. Plus, there still feels like a lack of direction and a foggy future.

If there is one team that needs to nail offseason transactions and roster moves to perfection, it’s the Nuggets.  

5. Become More Exciting

The Nuggets had an exceptional 38-3 home record in 2012-13. The high altitude, a run-and-gun offense and a passionate crowd made Denver one of the toughest visits. The Nuggets dropped 23 games at Pepsi Center this year, and a lack of talent isn’t the only issue.

As banal as it may sound, the Nuggets are simply not exciting enough. Even though Denver has never appeared to be true a basketball city, fans can still get behind a competitive, hardworking group. Unfortunately, attendance has plummeted over the last couple of years, hitting rock bottom among NBA teams this season, according to ESPN.

Denver head coach Mike Malone had the following to say on the worrying trend, according to Paul Klee of the Gazette: “It’s up to us. The fans aren’t going to give it to us. We don’t have a home-court advantage. When we do have people in the building, they’re rooting for the other team. So we have to find a way—coaches and players—to protect our home court.”

It’s not a simple issue to solve. Denver’s front office has been obstinate in its dealings, refusing to bottom out in a desperate attempt to remain relevant, and it has partially backfired.

Throwing together mediocre teams isn’t going to get it done. Some fans can buy into a smart rebuilding process, but there has to be an incentive to watch. That’s why hitting rock bottom for a season is the preferred route—it provides a shot at drafting a potential superstar, in turn bringing hope and excitement.

Nikola Jokic is bound to be a stud, a true steal for a second-round pick, but he isn’t the aesthetically pleasing star who will sell tickets—at least not yet.

If the franchise wants to bolt back to relevance, it has to arouse interest in its fanbase. Addressing these other pressing concerns is a good way to start.

 4. Establish a Core and Direction

The Nuggets roster is an awkward mix of inexperienced players and mid-career guys in their primes. That type of complexion leads to an internal dilemma: Do you try to win every game or sacrifice the veterans’ minutes to develop youngsters?

Ideally, a team’s best players should reach their prime simultaneously to maximize a contention window. Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Kenneth Faried—Denver’s three highest-paid players—will all be in their 30s by the time …

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