National Basketball Association

Why The Denver Nuggets Are The NBA's Next Up and Coming Team

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Feb 22, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) brings the ball up the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Via the draft, the Denver Nuggets have accrued an array of assets, and this should turn them into the team to watch not for this year but for the next decade.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are viewed by many as the next up and coming team in the NBA. Last season Minnesota won 29 games. This off season they added first round draft pick Kris Dunn, and new head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Between Karl-Anthony Towns’ potential to become a superstar, and coach Thibodeau’s experience as a successful defensive-minded coach there is reason to believe they’ll improve.

nuggets

Nugg Love 2wDenver Nuggets: Will Malik Beasley Sadly Only Get Insurance Minutes?

More headlines around FanSided:

2w - Top 5 Denver Nuggets with Any Fantasy Basketball Value 4w - Denver Nuggets: There Is No Hope for DeMarcus Cousins Coming to DEN 6w - Rio Olympics: Lauvergne, France Must Dominate Against Venezuela 7w - Team USA Dominate In Their Second Olympic Game 7w - Jameer Nelson: NBPA's Teammate of the YearMore News at Nugg Love

Are they the next up and coming team though?

The Nuggets are also on the rise in the west. They are further in the rebuilding process and have a higher ceiling.

Last season the Nuggets won 33 games (4 more than Minnesota). They did so without Wilson Chandler. And much of the year without their best player Danilo Gallinari and rising star Jusuf Nurkic. All three players are now healthy and ready for the 2016-17 season.
KAT was rookie of the year and has potential to become a superstar in this league.

Denver had two rookies last season who made the first or second all-rookie team as well though, including the surging Serbian star Nikola Jokic who finished 3rd in rookie of the year voting.

Minnesota had one first round pick in this year’s draft and selected Kris Dunn. Denver had 3 first round draft picks and selected Jamal Murray, Juancho Hernangomez, and Malik Beasley.

Denver was better than Minnesota last year, and clearly have had the better off season as well. Minnesota somehow making the leap past Denver next season is unlikely.

The NBA’s next young powerhouse will come out of the western conference, but it won’t be the Timberwolves.