Denver Nuggets: Michael Porter Jr. needs to be great
For the Denver Nuggets to become a real contender in the Western Conference, they’re going to need Michael Porter Jr. to be great
The Denver Nuggets are coming off a great season in 2018-19. They exceeded expectations and were one win away from the Western Conference Finals.
Denver has an elite core of talent to build around. Nikola Jokic has established himself as a star in the league. Jamal Murray and Gary Harris are also high-quality players on the rise. Paul Millsap and Will Barton have both provided great veteran leadership this season.
However, Denver’s most exciting young prospect has not even played yet. Michael Porter Jr. was one of the top-ranked high school basketball recruits in the class of 2017, but his draft stock plummeted due to an unfortunate back injury during his freshman season in college. The Nuggets were able to pick him up in the middle of the first round in last season’s draft, and he took a medical redshirt in his rookie year.
More from Sir Charles In Charge
- Dillon Brooks proved his value to Houston Rockets in the 2023 FIBA World Cup
- NBA Trade Rumors: 1 Player from each team most likely to be traded in-season
- Golden State Warriors: Buy or sell Chris Paul being a day 1 starter
- Does Christian Wood make the Los Angeles Lakers a legit contender?
- NBA Power Rankings: Tiering all 30 projected starting point guards for 2023-24
Porter is a highly-skilled basketball player. At 6-foot-11, he can score from anywhere on the court and has great athleticism around the basket.
Michael Porter Jr.’s skillset will raise the ceiling of this Denver team. The Nuggets only had ONE small forward on their roster last season (Torrey Craig). He played admirably in the playoffs, but there was a major lack of depth at that position for the entire season. Porter’s versatility allows him to play small forward AND power forward, so he would solve that problem.
Nikola Jokic is without a doubt the star of the Nuggets, but Porter would fit in perfectly next to him. Jokic is a great passer, so Porter would be able to play off-ball and score efficiently with his jump shot and athleticism.
Michael Porter Jr. will also be an elite on-ball scorer. He knows how to create for himself, and at 6-foot-11, he can shoot right over the defender.
Porter projects to be a good defender as well. Assuming he puts in the effort on that end of the floor, his height and athleticism enable him to guard multiple positions.
Everything mentioned above won’t mean anything if Porter isn’t healthy. He’s 20 years old, and has already had two back surgeries. However, if he manages to stay healthy and be on the floor, then Michael Porter Jr. could be a real asset for Denver.
Indiana Pacers: 5 free agents to help reach the next level. dark. Next
Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Gary Harris are all great, young players. Add Michael Porter Jr. to that group, and Denver has an elite young core that could lead them to many championships in the future.