Nuggets Notes: Gordon, starters, trade needs

On By Littum

Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon claims that his lingering calf damage doesn’t bother him anymore, writes Bennett Durando from Denver Post. The veteran big man has played under a minute’s limitation, but it sounds like he’s eager to change it.

“I’m ready,” Said Gordon. “I don’t feel my calf anymore. Yes. I’m ready. So it’s on the training staff and coaching staff now. “

Gordon has not yet played more than 25 minutes in a competition since returning from the calf damage on January 12. Durando notes that the dizzying protocol from Gordon and Jokic has had an exciting advantage for Denver – Nuggets Sport A +9.5 Net assessment when Gordon plays without Jokic. Denver has historically slightly when its three-time MVP, which generally plays with Gordon, sits. The 6’8 ″ Forward is the 2023 Champs’ Top Defender as well as a knowledgeable and effective post scorer.

“We just have to keep going with it,” Head coach Michael Malone said of the team’s current strategy. “Bring him off the bench for the time being and use him in every way we can to help us get gains.”

There’s more out of Denver:

  • As Gordon’s health continues to improve, it raises the question of just when – or if – he needs to be returned to the Nuggets’ start five. Denver Post’s Troy Renck and Bennett Durando Consider whether such a movement should happen or not and how it would affect the way Denver approaches this year’s trading deadline. Russell Westbrook have started in front of Gordon recently with forward Michael Porter Jr. To play a position to accommodate the extra guard.
  • After a medium-sized 11-10 start to the season, with Jokic an average of 37.7 minutes at night, the nuggets hardly looked like they would have much left in the tank for the end game. But something has changed recently. Now Denver is 28-17, currently good for Western Conference’s No. 4 seeds. IN Another story to Denver PostDurando assesses the team’s needs at the trade deadline, which suggests that a frontcourt upgrade or some long-range bench knob can help improve the team to the home range 2024/25.
  • In case you missed it, Jokic continues to make a case to earn his second consecutive MVP price this spring – and his fourth in five years.