Predicting the Denver Nuggets' 2015 Starting Five Following Free Agency

Predicting the Denver Nuggets' 2015 Starting Five Following Free Agency

By George Middleton

July 20, 2015

Predicting the Denver Nuggets' 2015 Starting Five Following Free Agency

Denver Nuggets — Denver Nuggets traded their best player, Ty Lawson, on Sunday and didn't get any players capable of contributing in return with Nick Johnson, Pablo Prigioni, Joey Dorsey, Kostas Papanikolaou and a 2016 protected first-round pick. Lawson was having his fair share of off-the-court problems, but it's still hard to understand why the Nuggets traded him for what they received. Rookie Emmanuel Mudiay will now have the keys to the car as a rookie.

Denver Nuggets traded their best player, Ty Lawson, on Sunday and didn't get any players capable of contributing in return with Nick Johnson, Pablo Prigioni, Joey Dorsey, Kostas Papanikolaou and a 2016 protected first-round pick. Lawson was having his fair share of off-the-court problems, but it's still hard to understand why the Nuggets traded him for what they received. Rookie Emmanuel Mudiay will now have the keys to the car as a rookie.

PG- Emmanuel Mudiay

Emmanuel Mudiay Denver Nuggets

PG- Emmanuel Mudiay

Emmanuel Mudiay Denver Nuggets — Emmanuel Mudiay will be the starting point guard since Ty Lawson was dealt. The No. 7 overall pick has all the tools, size and athleticism to be an elite point guard. He excels at going to the basket and is a good playmaker. In the summer league, he averaged 12 points and 5.8 assists. He also made the All-NBA Summer League second team. The future is bright for the new Nuggets floor general.

Emmanuel Mudiay will be the starting point guard since Ty Lawson was dealt. The No. 7 overall pick has all the tools, size and athleticism to be an elite point guard. He excels at going to the basket and is a good playmaker. In the summer league, he averaged 12 points and 5.8 assists. He also made the All-NBA Summer League second team. The future is bright for the new Nuggets floor general.

SG- Randy Foye

Randy Foye Denver Nuggets

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SG- Randy Foye

Randy Foye Denver Nuggets — Nuggets fans won't be excited with this choice, but Randy Foye will start. Instead of starting Gary Harris or shifting Wilson Chandler to shooting guard, the 31-year-old veteran will have the spot. Foye averaged 8.7 points and only shot 37 percent from the field last year. It wouldn't surprise me if he only plays 15-20 minutes, as the Nuggets are better off freeing up Harris.

Nuggets fans won't be excited with this choice, but Randy Foye will start. Instead of starting Gary Harris or shifting Wilson Chandler to shooting guard, the 31-year-old veteran will have the spot. Foye averaged 8.7 points and only shot 37 percent from the field last year. It wouldn't surprise me if he only plays 15-20 minutes, as the Nuggets are better off freeing up Harris.

SF- Wilson Chandler

Wilson Chandler Denver Nuggets

SF- Wilson Chandler

Wilson Chandler Denver Nuggets — Wilson Chandler has been a solid small forward for quite some time. Chandler can do a little bit of everything, as he can shoot, defend and attack the basket. Last season Chandler averaged 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds, but over the final four games he averaged 22.8 points and 7.5 rebounds. Nuggets fans can only hope he plays like that next season.

Wilson Chandler has been a solid small forward for quite some time. Chandler can do a little bit of everything, as he can shoot, defend and attack the basket. Last season Chandler averaged 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds, but over the final four games he averaged 22.8 points and 7.5 rebounds. Nuggets fans can only hope he plays like that next season.

PF- Kenneth Faried

Kenneth Faried Denver Nuggets

PF- Kenneth Faried

Kenneth Faried Denver Nuggets — It's highly unlikely the Nuggets go small ball and start Kenneth Faried at center and Danilo Gallinari at power forward. Faried is a high energy guy and is a terrific rebounder. Last year, he averaged 12.6 points and 8.9 rebounds. Hopefully Faried has improved his shooting range this offseason to make things easier for Jusuf Nurkic.

It's highly unlikely the Nuggets go small ball and start Kenneth Faried at center and Danilo Gallinari at power forward. Faried is a high energy guy and is a terrific rebounder. Last year, he averaged 12.6 points and 8.9 rebounds. Hopefully Faried has improved his shooting range this offseason to make things easier for Jusuf Nurkic.

C- Jusuf Nurkic

Jusuf Nurkic Denver Nuggets

C- Jusuf Nurkic

Jusuf Nurkic Denver Nuggets — Jusuf Nurkic looks like a promising player. The 20-year-old center was selected with the No. 16 pick in last year's draft. As a rookie he averaged 6.9 points and 6.2 rebounds. He also averaged 1.1 blocks, despite only playing 17.8 minutes. If Nurkic continues to improve his low-post scoring, he can be a terrific center.

Jusuf Nurkic looks like a promising player. The 20-year-old center was selected with the No. 16 pick in last year's draft. As a rookie he averaged 6.9 points and 6.2 rebounds. He also averaged 1.1 blocks, despite only playing 17.8 minutes. If Nurkic continues to improve his low-post scoring, he can be a terrific center.

George Middleton is a Los Angeles Lakers beat writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgemiddlet0n, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

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