1. Denver Nuggets
How could it not be the Denver Nuggets? The reigning NBA champs are set to return their entire starting 5 heading into next season. That group includes two-time MVP Nikola Jokic (who is seemingly somehow only 28 years old), plus a trio of 24-27-year-olds who continue to develop in Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon. The eldest member of the group is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at 30 years old, but he doesn’t seem to be slowing down with age (and in fact is arguably coming off of the most efficient season of his career).
The full returning starting 5 is not the only talent returning however for Denver as they also return Christian Braun, who carved out a key role in his rookie season and has quickly become highly trusted by Michael Malone. Peyton Watson is also an intriguing youngster to watch, as is Zeke Nnaji (if the Nuggets pick up his $4.3 million team option).
The two big pending Free Agents are Denver’s sixth and seventh men from this past season; Bruce Brown and Jeff Green. I think Denver will want to bring back both players if they can afford them.
Denver does not have a pick in the 1st round this year (due to the trade in 2020 that landed them RJ Hampton) but does pick twice early in the 2nd round at No. 37 and No. 40 overall (which they can either use as trade chips, package in an attempt to move up several spots or use to add two cheap young players to the roster).
Denver just got done with a championship run in which it went through Anthony Edwards, KAT, and Gobert in the first round, KD and Booker in the conference semifinals, LeBron and AD in the WCF, and Butler and Bam in the Finals…without having to go to a single Game 7 (and in fact, only have to go to one Game 6). That shows just how good the Nuggets were this year. And again, they’re returning most of their rotation next season, headlined by arguably the best player in the world. That’s the main reason they are No. 1 on my list.
While it can be dangerous to just “run it back” at times in the NBA, the Nuggets seem to be in a prime position to do so with just a few changes made at the backend of their rotation. Denver might have trouble bringing Brown back, but the team definitely seems set to be the top NBA Championship front-runner heading into 2023-24 as they look to go back-to-back.