4.) Denver Nuggets
“When will we finally make the Finals?” A question asked by Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers fans alike since the beginning of time. The Nuggets are one of the more lucky teams on this list. They drafted some kid from Serbia that drank a lot of Coca-Cola and was kind of overweight named Nikola Jokic in the second round of the 2014 draft. He, luckily, transformed into a premier center in this league and is a player unlike any seen before. Jokic has a nice touch from both mid range and from three. He can rebound (you know, like every seven footer), and his most noticeable attribute is his flashy passing ability. He gets multiple triple doubles each season, which is impressive in its own right, but even more so by a center.
Jokic is the undoubtable leader of this team, but who comes up second? Jamal Murray and Gary Harris are the wings for Denver, and they are great second and third options for Jokic. Their luck extends into landing these guys too. They picked up Harris and Jusuf Nurkic from Chicago on 2014 draft night. While Nurkic isn’t with the team anymore, Harris is a reliable 3-and-D swingman. This season, Harris highlighted his year with a buzzer beater three pointer against the Thunder. Harris has the clutch gene, which can be the single most important thing in basketball on occasion.
Murray was the seventh pick of the 2016 draft as a pick the Nuggets acquired from the Knicks from all the way back in the Carmelo Anthony to New York trade. Murray was a point guard while in college at Kentucky, but his playmaking ability was questionable, hence Denver running him at the two guard most of the time.
Also, I’d be remiss to not mention Will Barton’s sixth man heroics. Barton would very likely take home his first Sixth Man if the Year award this year award if it weren’t for our very own Lou Williams.
Paul Millsap was their big signing in the summer of 2017 for Denver. Many, including myself, thought adding Millsap to their roster would push them into playoff birth. Millsap missed a hefty chunk of the season due to injury and that is likely what kept them from making the post season.
This team is starting to turn things up, and a good lottery pick this draft could solidify them as a playoff lock for many years to come.
They are in need of a playmaker. Players like Trae Young, Collin Sexton, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are all potential candidates. This roster may not lead Denver to their first ever Finals or Championship, but it will be entertaining to see.