This possibility turned into reality during the first hour of free agency as Caldwell-Pope agreed to a three-year deal with the Orlando Magic, making the Magic stronger while the Nuggets weakened. This is the second consecutive offseason that the Nuggets have lost a key part of their 2023 NBA Championship-winning team.
The Nuggets need to figure out a way to replace what Caldwell-Pope brought to the roster on and off the court. This will not be easy under any circumstances.
Below is a breakdown of the challenges facing the Nuggets and what they can do next.
Why is this loss so big?
The Nuggets weren’t able to become championship contenders until they started blocking guys at the point of attack on defense. And they didn’t become monsters on defense until they brought in Caldwell-Pope. Defenders like Caldwell-Pope were able to help mitigate Nikola Jokic’s lack of rim protection.
Caldwell-Pope, despite being one of basketball’s best perimeter defenders, hit 41.5 percent of his 3-pointers in his two seasons in Denver and he made a habit of hitting big shots.
He proved to fit into Denver’s offensive scheme as he moved very well even without the basketball. He took advantage of his opportunities and never hijacked the offense while maintaining great chemistry with Jokic and Jamal Murray.
His value in the locker room was almost the same, if not even greater. He provided a voice of competitive peace. After winning the 2020 title in the NBA Bubble with the Lakers, he brought with him a championship pedigree and often talked about what it’s like to win at the highest level. He was the only player on the Nuggets’ roster to experience a title before 2023. He passed that experience on to his colleagues.
Caldwell-Pope often took the tough perimeter assignments, so Murray did not have to tax himself defensively. He is the definition of a veteran player who achieved many achievements and gave his more famous teammates a chance to step up. As a result, his presence will not be easily replaced.
Why did this happen?
The Nuggets made a competing offer but new rules and penalties brought about by the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement hurt Denver in the matter. If the Nuggets had retained Caldwell-Pope, they would likely have moved to another tax apron, which would severely limit how a team could build a roster. Here’s how if you’re a team in the second apron:
- No access to any mid-level exceptions in free agency.
- Contracts cannot be aggregated across trades
- Can’t send cash in trades
- Can’t sign and trade your own players
- A first-round pick cannot be traded in the future seven years, and if the team is higher than the second apron in two of the following four years, that pick moves to the bottom of the first round.
Denver made Caldwell-Pope a competing offer, but when the race is tied, you essentially have a 50 percent chance of losing that race. The Nuggets ultimately lost the race. It should also be noted that even if Denver was able to keep Caldwell-Pope, the Nuggets would likely be in the same boat with Aaron Gordon next summer.
After losing Caldwell-Pope, the Nuggets now have access to the $5.18 million taxpayer midlevel exception. They’re probably not going to find a starter with that kind of money. But they can find a rotation player with it. This leads us to…
How does Denver replace Caldwell-Pope?
The Nuggets are exploring the trade market and pursuing free agency. Still, if the Nuggets’ roster remains largely the same, Christian Braun is ready to take a big jump in playing time and responsibility. Elevating Braun into the starting lineup could be a mixed bag. Braun is bigger and more athletic than Caldwell-Pope. He is an even-keeled defender and a tough, competitive player. He is a much better player in transition than Caldwell-Pope.
But he’s not nearly the same level of shooter. He’s not that good a creator off the dribble either, and creating rebounds was not Caldwell-Pope’s strength.
There is a question as to whether or not the Nuggets give Julian Strother a starting spot and keep Braun as the sixth man, but play Braun more than 30 minutes a game. Strother is an excellent shooter. The former first-round pick out of Gonzaga is long and wide for a 6-foot-7 shooting guard. He is more creative off the dribble than he is given credit for. Their presence helps offensively and helps reduce aggression.
However, Strother is not a great defender and needs to be better.
Peyton Watson is also in line to get some minutes, though he’ll likely come off the bench no matter what.
What do the Nuggets need?
Internal development will help the Nuggets here. They need Strother, Hunter Tyson and Jalen Pickett to come back as better players, because, with the trade of Reggie Jackson to Charlotte, the Nuggets no longer have a backup point guard. The Nuggets will need to find one in the coming days. Denver needs an edge from Braun and Strother. The Nuggets need Michael Porter Jr. to continue to improve in his work as well.
This is the reality of the new collective bargaining agreement. Teams have to spend wisely and select wisely. Maintaining a championship-level core becomes more difficult, and Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth knows it.
Losing Brown last year and now Caldwell-Pope is tough. This puts the onus on the Nuggets to make the majority of roster moves. Denver is in the midst of Jokic’s prime and looking to maximize wins. Accomplishing this will require more creativity than ever before.
Have the Nuggets become title contenders?
No, not as long as Jokic is at his peak, and not as long as Murray can stay honest and healthy. No matter what happens the rest of the offseason, Denver is a major threat to come out of the Western Conference and win the title. But they’re probably not the best team or second-best team in the league. They are not strong title contenders, but it is unfair to snatch the title contender label from them.
What does it mean? The Dallas Mavericks were favorites to exit the Western Conference, not favorites. He performed well and performed well at the right time. They faced some favorable competition and made it to the NBA Finals. Barring a major upgrade in the coming days, Denver is likely headed to next season. The Nuggets will win more than 50 games provided he stays healthy. They would clinch a higher playoff seed. From there, it will be a battle for them.
It’s not a difficult place to live, it’s just a more difficult place to live.
essential reading
Robbins: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope intends to sign a 3-year, $66 million deal with the Magic
NBA free agency 2024: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the leader among the top shooting guards available
(Photo of Jamal Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: Aaron Ontiveros/The Denver Post)
Discover more from news2source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
