The Denver Nuggets have been playing the long game for years, and for the most part, it’s paying off this offseason. Even though they fell in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Denver took the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a grueling seven-game battle. That exit wasn’t a failure; it was a reminder of just how razor-thin the margin for error is at the top of the NBA. Now, with new head coach David Adelman at the helm, the Nuggets have retooled smartly. They shed Michael Porter Jr.’s massive contract in exchange for Cam Johnson, a better two-way fit and floor spacer at a fraction of the cost. Jonas Valanciunas arrived to fix the long-standing backup center problem.

At the same time, veterans Bruce Brown Jr. and Tim Hardaway Jr. were brought in to solidify depth

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