Denver’s preseason twist features Jokic at power forward paired with Jonas Valanciunas in a two‑big look. The early sample was rocky—five possessions, four points, 80 offensive rating—but Adelman stresses it’s a Band‑Aid moment to test spacing and timing. The experiment leans on high‑low action, with Watson, Braun and Strawther providing length and drive to mix with the bigs.

Defensively, Adelman explores a zone with both centers at the bottom, aiming to angle rotations and protect against interior mismatches. The plan mirrors Houston’s Sengun–Adams template but remains a work in progress as Denver dials in how to space and execute with this unconventional frontline.

Nuggets front office aims to maximize Nikola Jokic’s prime, weighing a veteran buyout that could bring floor-spacing and intangibles to the roster. Kevin Love’s expiring deal and buyout chatter, tied to a three-team swap that rearranges Norman Powell, John Collins and Kyle Anderson, looms as a potential upgrade option for Denver’s depth. Cam Johnson’s arrival and Jokic-led core still dominate the rotation, but Denver’s bench could shift if Love links with a contender this fall.

The deal lattice—Heat, Jazz and Clippers exchanging Powell, Collins and Love—creates a chessboard where Denver’s best path to title contention is a balanced mix of Jokic’s prime years, Gordon’s versatility, and wing shooting. Denver’s depth at power forward/center includes Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, Jonas Valanciunas, and young wings Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther, with DaRon Holmes II and Hunter Tyson providing upside. Love’s veteran presence could stabilize the second unit and add insurance in the postseason, should the buyout materialize.

Durando’s note that Adelman’s Minnesota ties and Love’s willingness to chase a contender keep the narrative alive. Whether Love signs with Denver or merely remains a foil in the front-office chatter, the Nuggets’ path remains clear: sustain Jokic’s peak years, improve spacing, and trust the developmental curve of the youth on hand. The market signal is that Denver won’t stand pat as Jokic ages toward legacy status.

Denver remains a perennial 50-win contender as the Nuggets head into 2025-26 with a coaching transition under David Adelman and a sharpened roster. Bleacher Report’s preview pins Denver at 54-28, four wins better than 2024-25, a mark that would tie for the franchise’s fourth-most all-time. Nikola Jokic stands as the anchor, with Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon in position to push the offense, while the return of Bruce Brown and the addition of Tim Hardaway Jr. strengthen the wing and secondary scoring. In the frontcourt, Cameron Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas join a core that already includes Christian Braun, DaRon Holmes II, and Julian Strawther, giving Denver increasing floor spacing, savvy finishing, and interior presence.

The Nuggets open the season October 23 vs. Golden State, a showcase for their revamped rotation and Adelman’s system. FanDuel’s over/under sits at 53.5 wins, underscoring the expectation of a tight, high-caliber campaign. The chatter around Jokic remains that he’s the near-unanimous top asset in the world, with Burns of the fan base in Milwaukee, L.A., and Oklahoma City still debating the case for others. Denver’s mix of MVP-caliber talent and reinforced depth keeps them squarely in the championship mix as they chase another deep playoff run.