The Nuggets first step in the offseason: Adelman takes office, is the next step to keep Braun or dump Porter Jr.

The Nuggets lost to the Thunder in the tiebreak of the Western Conference Finals this year, and fans were full of criticisms - but no matter how much they curse, this former champion team is now in the "life and death offseason".

From the loss of old champions such as Pope and Brown, to the ups and downs of the season, Malone was fired, and then to the exit of the Western Conference Finals, the Nuggets' problem has long been not "Jokic is not strong enough", but the aging lineup, unstable core, and disconnected tactics. How to adjust during the offseason? Three key figures - Braun, Porter Jr. and new coach Adelman, determine Jokic's future.

Braun: 150 million must be kept in 5 years! He is the most "stable" puzzle around Jokic, this year's playoffs, Braun's performance was "the most surprising player of the Nuggets": he averaged 38.9 minutes per game, 12.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, and his defensive end was like a "little steel cannon" and his offensive end was full of impact - he was so fierce when he dunked, not like a "white and clean" guy at all. More importantly, Braun and Jokic's pick-and-roll are becoming more and more tacit. Jokic needs a "setup" who can rush the basket, make up for defense, and share pressure. Braun not only fills the ups and downs of Murray and Porter Jr., but also predicts and fills up positions in advance on the defensive end, directly "reduces the burden" of Jokic's inside defense.

The problem now is that Braun is eligible for signing a five-year, 150 million early contract renewal this year. The Nuggets have tight salary space, but they must keep him - he will become a free agent at the end of next season, and then the Nets and the Cavaliers will definitely grab it. It is no exaggeration to say that Braun is the "tactical cornerstone" of the Nuggets in the next three years. If he can't keep him, Jokic really wants to "no sound alone".

Potter Jr.: High salary + glass attribute, becoming the person who is "most likely to trade" during the offseason

Potter Jr.'s situation is summarized in two words: embarrassing.

He received a maximum salary of 207 million yuan in five years, next season, and more than 40 million in 2025, but this season's performance is very similar to riding a "roller coaster" - 18.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 41.2% three-pointers in the regular season, and the data looks OK; he is directly "invisible" in the playoffs, and he has been away from the tactical system many times when Jokic was double-teamed, and he became the "burden man" who was eliminated by the Nuggets.

What's even more troublesome is his injuries - 5 injuries and 4 major injuries in the first 4 seasons, and direct reimbursement for the rookie season, and only played 9 games in the 2021-22 season. Such "glass attributes" and with high salary, the Nuggets will only lock in the salary space.

So during the offseason, Porter Jr. is very likely to be traded. What do the Nuggets need to exchange for him? It is best to be a 3D forward or a future draft pick, which can make room for signing Braun, and also find a "stable second-in-command" for Jokic.

Adelman becomes a regular: Can the new coach "change blood" for the Nuggets?

After firing Malone, the Nuggets quickly corrected Adelman. Jokic praised him for "waking up the team's vitality", and Murray also said "the tactics are clearer" - Adelman's takeover at least solved the problem of "clothes room morale".

But Adelman's real test is how to activate Murray and Porter Jr. while using Braun well. Murray is trapped in injuries this season and his condition is fluctuating; if Porter Jr. doesn't trade, he has to design tactics that are more suitable for Jokic (such as running without a ball and three-pointers at a fixed point); Braun needs more ball rights to convert his impact into tactical advantages.

Adelman said: "Nothing that has nothing to do with the championship is unacceptable." This sentence is for both the players and the management - the offseason must be adjusted "really" or Jokic's patience will be exhausted. Jokic's "last year" must submit the Nuggets' papers

Jokic is 30 years old this year, and how many years will it be at its peak. He can wait for the Nuggets to adjust, but he can't wait too long. If Braun cannot be retained, Porter Jr., or strong aid in the offseason, this "historical center" is likely to consider leaving the team (refer to Antetokounmpo forcing the Bucks to the palace back then).

The Nuggets' "life and death offseason" is essentially giving Jokic a "champion hope". Braun must stay, Porter Jr. must move, and Adelman must come up with new tactics - if these three steps are done well, the Nuggets may be able to make another move; if they are not done well, Jokic's "Nuggets Career" may really end.