Last things first.
The Nuggets, the NBA champions in 2023, and the Lakers, champions in 2020, have been in a bobsled race to nowhere over the past month.
While there is still time for a few roster moves, it’s fair to ask: Which team has had the worst offseason?
The Nuggets, in a salary cap straight jacket, lost popular 3-and-D guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as a free agent to the Orlando Magic. Not the Magic with Shaq and Lil’ Penny, but with Franz and Paolo.
The Lakers hired podcaster J.J. Redick as head coach. And they couldn’t convince Klay Thompson to take their four-year, $80 million offer, despite his father, Mychal Thompson, a Lakers broadcaster, recruiting him to come home.
The Nuggets were unable to swing a deal for Paul George or Alex Caruso. Instead, they traded six second-round picks to draft Dayton’s DaRon Holmes II and receive $5 million in salary relief on Reggie Jackson’s contract.
The Lakers landed former Northern Colorado star Dalton Knecht with the 17th pick, but then became a family business. They drafted Bronny James 55th overall — as far as I can tell he’s the first player selected in the last 25 years who is under 6-foot-2 and averaged less than 5 points per game in college. And LeBron James eschewed the idea of taking a pay cut when Thompson balked at coming, signing a two-year, $104 million max deal.
The Lakers have no chance of winning a title next season when LeBron turns 40. But it is getting much harder to make a case for the Nuggets as well. And Nikola Jokic is in his prime at age 29.
Given that context, the Nuggets’ have done something they rarely ever do. They have lost to the Lakers, winning the honor of the worst offseason.
ESPN’s Matt Miller mocked CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders to go second overall to the Raiders in the 2025 draft. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah compared Sanders to Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith. Smith, a two-time Pro Bowler, was a second-round pick in 2013. If Sanders goes top-five overall matching Smith’s career would be a disappointment. Sanders is a terrific passer, but he must stop holding onto the ball so long this season. …
Are we sure Team USA’s men’s basketball team is a lock to win the gold medal in Paris? With a starting five of James, Steph Curry, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid and Kevin Durant, they should be. But who will act as a true point guard and who will do the dirty work on the boards? Tyrese Haliburton and Bam Adebayo could emerge as key figures. …
A lack of talent remains why the Broncos are forecast to win roughly six games next season. ESPN recently ranked NFL rosters. The 49ers finished first. The Broncos, gulp, sat at 31st, ahead of only the New York Giants. …
It is hard to take the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team seriously after their embarrassing group stage exit in Copa America. The World Cup will be on American soil in 2026, but why should we believe the U.S. can take advantage of it given questions about the underwhelming coach, scheme and roster?
Nobody asked. But I believe the All-Star Home Run Derby should just be Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani taking batting practice. Not even the state of Wyoming can match those fireworks. …
Mail Time
Please discuss the Nuggets point guard situation. We can’t have Jamal Murray totally used up before the playoffs. Jalen Pickett can’t be the answer, and they let Collin Gillespie get away.
Had Beatty, email
With Reggie Jackson gone, the expected move is to add Russell Westbrook. He would bring energy, attitude, and functional defense. But Westbrook is an awful 3-point shooter for a team that desperately needs to shoot more and more accurately from beyond the arc. His strength? Creating off the dribble on drives to the basket for a scoring-starved second unit. There is value in that if he remains comfortable with a complementary role. But it is impossible to argue that losing Pope and Jackson in exchange for Westbrook would make the Nuggets better.
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