Are the Denver Nuggets headed for a decline this season? According to NBA reporter Tim MacMahon, this appears to be the case as he picks out the one team he envisions taking a step back in the 2024-25 season. Is he right? Which other teams will accompany his choice?
Denver Nuggets to Decline? NBA Reporter Predicts a Drop
Denver Nuggets, Former Champions, will Decline, says ESPN’s Tim MacMahon
ESPN writer and NBA reporter Tim MacMahon stated on NBA Today earlier this week that the former champion Denver Nuggets are his pick to decline the most in the Western Conference. While this may seem like a drastic take considering who leads the Nuggets—Nikola Jokic—MacMahon pointed out that the loss of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will significantly impact the Nuggets’ 2024-25 season. MacMahon stressed Denver’s recent history of letting championship pieces walk in free agency.
“…you lose KCP, [I mean] keep championship players. The Lakers learned the hard way, and the Nuggets are doing the same thing here. That’s on the heels of losing Bruce Brown last year; that’s two finishing pieces to their championship puzzle.” MacMahon pointed out.
MacMahon’s point is spot on in this regard. Having lost Bruce Brown and now Caldwell-Pope in back-to-back free agencies is a harsh reality. He also alluded to his shaky trust in Jamal Murray.
However, MacMahon’s NBA Today counterpart Zach Lowe wasn’t ready to throw Denver off the deep end so quickly. He isn’t prepared to write off Jokic like that. Jokic is still the best player in the league. Yes, they came up short last year in the playoffs. However, even without Brown, they still tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder for first in the West and won their first playoff round against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nuggets are far from a declining team, considering their core of Jokic, Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr. remains intact.
Other West Teams to Decline
This conversation came on the heels of NBA senior writer Kevin Pelton’s position that the three teams who will take a big step back this season are the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Lowe echoed the Timberwolves as a team he feels shaky about.
“…decline is too strong a word. I think Minnesota will be a top-four team in the Western Conference again this year, but after getting to the conference finals, that doesn’t mean anything. The proof is in the pudding, and there’s just something in my stomach…like they’re the logical pick to make the finals, and I just can’t get there.“
Minnesota seems like a team chomping at the bit to explode this year after coming oh-so-close last season. Anthony Edwards is in a prime position to take the reins of this Timberwolves team fully. We’ll find out if that includes leading them to the NBA Finals in the process. He’s simply that electrifying and good. As for the Nuggets, Lowe’s caution in counting out The Joker seems like a proper frame of mind type of thinking. Having said that, perhaps the Wolves do experience a sort of “sophomore slump” after last seasons surge. It’s been known to happen to teams in the past.
Too Soon To Count Out
No one in the current NBA can manipulate or shift a game in their favor more than Jokic. It will be tough to scratch out the Nuggets, no matter where they land in the standings. As for the Timberwolves, Lakers, and Clippers, who all made Pelton’s “decline” list, Minnesota seems like the most unlikely squad to fall off the cliff. As for the LA teams, well, that has the potential to play out in an entirely different way.
