This 2024-25 campaign was filled with highs and lows for the Denver Nuggets, and their goal of making it back to the NBA’s mountaintop ultimately fell short.
The Denver Nuggets‘ season will be remembered for the dismissals of coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth with just three games left of the 82.
Remarkably the Nuggets still made it as deep as the Western Conference Semifinals in which they brought the NBA-best OKC Thunder to their limit, eventually being defeated 4-3 in the series.
Moral victories are not enough for the Nuggets, however, knowing that they have to do whatever it takes to win another title, to maximize the best player in the world, Nikola Jokic.
Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver PostPaul Pierce suggests a Sacramento Kings star for the Denver Nuggets
After averaging a historic triple-double this season, Jokic carried a much heavier load for Denver this NBA Playoffs. This led to Charles Barkley blaming the Nuggets leadership for failing to provide the proper help he deserves.
In terms of what the Nuggets can do to improve their roster and chances to win their second title with Jokic, Paul Pierce proposed a star veteran who could aid them.
“For the next five years, if you got the best player, you got to put some pieces,” Pierce told KG Certified.
“I feel like if they had a DeMar DeRozan with that team right now, with Joker. He don’t need to be the best player or the second best player every night. He is going to give you more than what Michael Porter Jr. gave you.
“You know what I’m saying? If he comes out there and gives you a solid 15 [points], and on a good night gives you a [double-double assists and rebounds of] five, which he can do, that’s who I would target.”
Assessing DeRozan’s landing chances to Denver
After De’Aaron Fox’s midseason trade departure and yet another season shortcoming for the Sacramento Kings, DeMar DeRozan stands as one of the key few names to watch in the NBA trade market this summer.
He delivered another solid individual year this season, averaging 22.2 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 47.7 percent from the field across 77 games.
Following their Play-In loss against the Dallas Mavericks, the 35-year-old bluntly admitted that his time to win is already running out. Perhaps going to the Nuggets may finally offer him the shot he is seeking to claim his first championship.
With their best trade chip, the Nuggets can put Michael Porter Jr. on the table. But the Kings would be forced to attach more pieces in order to match his salary combined with DeRozan’s money.
Denver will obviously look for better ways to improve their caliber and supporting cast in the upcoming offseason. And with limited flexibility, going for DeRozan is considerably challenging.