Problems mount for the Denver Nuggets as they face yet another setback in the off-season. The Mile High City’s 22nd pick DaRon Holmes II suffered a torn right Achilles tendon ahead of his rookie year. Importantly, with only less than three months left for the 2024-25 regular season, the latest update revealed that the 22-year-old rookie could miss out entirely. This tragic news came as a follow-up to already existing concerns for Nikola Jokic & Co.

Despite going in with the same roster, the team failed to defend their title last season. After the disappointing end to the postseason campaign, the team lost its champion shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, leaving a big void in the starting line-up. While the team found some solace with the strong 22nd pick in the second unit, it went down the drain with a devastating update. The next question is, what can/has the Denver side done to overcome this setback?

The Nuggets’ offseason has pretty much come to an end with no major signings made other than a potential Russell Westbrook move. This would mean that Coach Malone needs to bring a player from the Nuggets’ bench, potentially Christian Braun, to replace Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. This would weaken an already struggling bench, giving 21-year-old Payton Watson the reins to a Championship-contending team’s second unit.

While DaRon Holmes’ addition had boosted the team’s chances of putting out a formidable second unit, his injury has now doubled their concerns. Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports revealed that Michael Malone is determined to find the perfect replacement for KCP.

Speaking of that, Malone added, “I’m not giving that spot to anybody. It’s a competition.” Moreover, Wind stated that MM has spoken to the Nuggets sophomore star, Julian Strawther. The 22-year-old shooting guard came off the bench last season, scoring 4.5 ppg in his 10.9-minute average game time.

Are the Nikola Jokic-led Nuggets still Championship contenders?

The team, which looked completely unbeatable in the 2023 postseason run, barely stood a chance in the 2024 postseason. While Nikola Jokic remained the central threat, the players around him weren’t really clicking in sync. Especially Jamal Murray struggled with consistency, scoring under 15 points in three games during the crucial 7-game series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

On the other hand, Michael Porter Jr. who acted as a 3-point threat, failed to show up in the semi-final series against the Wolves, despite averaging 22.8 points a staggering 48.8% from deep range against the Lakers in the series prior. On top of that, the team has also lost KCP, leaving Michael Malone with no option other than forming a new roster around Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.

In the last few weeks, the team went after Russell Westbrook and Dario Saric and roped in one of them. Regarding the Russ pursuit, the latest update from Harrison Wind revealed that the team is “on track” to rope the former MVP as well.

However, Beastbrook isn’t in the best of form in the last two years. Notably, in the first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks, he averaged 6.3 ppg with a poor shooting percentage of 26. Even though the team ropes him in, it doesn’t guarantee them as a championship candidate.

Before you go, do not forget to check out Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, to open up about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud. Keep checking this space for more such updates.