Welcome to Layup Strains, For the Win’s basketball publication. Subscribe right here to get it delivered to your inbox each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Have suggestions for the Layup Strains Crew? Depart your questions, feedback and issues by way of this temporary reader survey. Now, right here’s Mike Sykes
Pleased Friday, of us! Welcome again to Layup Strains. Thanks a lot for becoming a member of me right this moment. I hope you had a contented Halloween and have an incredible weekend forward of you.
It’s nonetheless tremendous early within the NBA season, so it’s most likely not the best time to overreact to gradual begins to all the groups that aren’t nearly as good as we expect they need to be at this level. The Denver Nuggets are definitely a kind of groups. Denver is 2-2 to this point by way of 4 video games however may simply be 0-4 after eking out two extra time wins towards some dangerous competitors early on within the season.
That’s not the half about their season that issues me most. It truthfully doesn’t have something to do with the play on the courtroom. Slightly, I feel the entrance workplace’s mentality ought to be elevating the Nuggets followers’ eyebrows right this moment.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne is reporting that the Nuggets had an opportunity to seize Paul George this offseason however handed up on the chance. Why? As a result of grabbing George would’ve required Denver to surrender youthful gamers to associate with the wage required.
Right here’s Shelburne with extra.
“League sources mentioned the Nuggets inquired about Paul George this offseason, however talks by no means escalated as a result of Denver refused to debate Braun, Watson or Strawther, and the Clippers weren’t desirous about solely taking again future wage — probably the $147 million owed to Porter and Zeke Nnaji.”
Mainly, the Nuggets are hesitant to surrender on any younger items, even when it means including a confirmed All-Star caliber piece to a championship core.
Right here’s the deal. Paul George is, under no circumstances, a certain guess to assist the Nuggets win a championship. He was an All-Star final season, nevertheless it’s been years since he’s been an All-NBA caliber participant. He’ll be 35 years previous by the top of this season and his subsequent deal was slated to be very costly. The Nuggets are cautious of the NBA’s second apron, like loads of different groups across the league are.
BEWARE OF THE APRON: How the NBA’s second apron is breaking your favourite groups aside
However right here’s the factor: If you’ve obtained arguably the perfect participant within the NBA in your facet, typically you’ve simply obtained to go for it. Generally which means going after a participant like Paul George. Generally it means preserving costly gamers like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope round. Generally it means letting go of youthful guys who may flip into one thing to try to get issues accomplished now.
Jokic is 29 years previous. He’s in the midst of his prime and coming off of a 3rd MVP season in 4 years. Getting him the perfect assist potential ought to be the Nuggets’ greatest precedence. That may imply not ready on Julian Strawther or Payton Watson to pan out.
The Nuggets need to have their cake and eat it, too. It’s the entire “two timeline” method the Warriors tried, however means worse. At the very least for Golden State, Jordan Poole had developed right into a starter. Jonathan Kuminga was a lottery decide. James Wiseman was oozing with potential.
The Nuggets don’t actually have these gamers. At finest, the names on the roster are supplemental items who may contribute large this season in bit roles. At worse, they gained’t matter in any respect.
These are the gamers Denver is betting on proper now. And, after such a gradual begin to the season, it appears to be like like the chance far outweighs the reward.
Wemby does Wemby issues
Necessary Credit score: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Photos
Talking of gradual begins to the season, Victor Wembanyama positively obtained off to at least one this 12 months.
That gradual begin is over after he achieved his second profession five-by-five sport on Thursday evening. He completed the Spurs’ sport towards Utah with 25 factors, 9 rebounds, seven assists, 5 steals and 5 blocks.
He’s the one participant in NBA historical past youthful than 22 years previous with a five-by-five sport, in line with Stat Muse. He additionally joins Hakeem Olajuwon and Andrei Kirilenko as the one two gamers in league historical past of have multiple five-by-five sport, per Pod of Fame’s Jim Miloch.
Victor Wembanyama put up 25 factors, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals, and 5 blocks final evening for his second profession 5X5 sport.
Solely 14 different gamers have ever put up a 5X5 sport.
He joins Hakeem Olajuwon and Andrei Kirilenko as the one gamers in NBA historical past to realize a 5X5… pic.twitter.com/HaKQXbeJGm
— Jim Miloch (@podoffame) November 1, 2024
This dude is about to interrupt the NBA.
Shootaround
— We debated about Bronny James reducing down the nets after his first basket. That is hilarious.
— Talking of that first basket, LeBron was unmoved. Cory Woodroof has extra on it.
— Robert Zeglinski ranked the perfect rivalries within the NBA right this moment.
— Wemby refusing to talk Chet Holmgren’s identify due to their rivalry is fairly wild.
That’s a wrap, of us. Thanks a lot for studying. Have an ideal weekend. Peace.
-Sykes ✌️
