After appearing nearly unbeatable on their way to the 2023 Championship, the regressed in 2024 as they suffered a premature second-round exit at the hands of the . Denver clearly didn't match up well with the size, strength, and athleticism that the Wolves threw at them, and they , so the has definitely been exaggerated. However, Denver has some clear issues that need to be solved if they want to return to their peak championship form.
They need to fill the gap in the starting lineup left by 's departure, find a backup center to spell , and acquire more off-the-dribble shot creation. The last two of these issues listed cost them against Minnesota's huge, athletic lineup. With that said, there is one Denver problem that can actually be fixed with one realistic move: their lack of bench scoring and the hole it puts them in when their starters get a rest.
If one wishes to explain that the Nuggets bench has struggled in recent seasons behind their stellar starting group, they simply have to look at the players who have made up these units. In 2023, they were able to put together a decent bench with , , and , but that has completely fallen apart in 2024 and entering 2025. Brown and Green have left for other teams, and Braun is poised to join the starting lineup after Pope exited for the .
With also leaving the team, Denver is left with a completely uncertain bench group consisting of , , , and . and are young players who may also crack into the rotation. The point is, the Nuggets .
