NBA Market: This is how Jokic's Nuggets have managed to improve their roster

For years, the decisions made by the front office of the Denver Nuggets have left the impression that the franchise was taking too many risks with little potential benefit. Bets on veterans like Reggie Jackson or Dario Saric ended up forcing the team to seek an exit shortly thereafter, while the contracts of Zeke Nnaji and Christian Braun were seen as particularly difficult moves to justify. They are now trying again in the NBA market to improve. 

The handling of Peyton Watson's situation seemed to take that trend to another level. After a disappointing first-round playoff exit, everything pointed to the Nuggets facing significant changes in their roster and in the way they build the team. However, the moves made over the summer did not represent a revolution.

That said, there is an important difference compared to some of the previous decisions. Beyond how Watson's case was managed, Denver has made several moves that align with some of the demands made by its fans. The team acquired a proven veteran like DeMar DeRozan to address a need and did so with a cheap contract.

Moreover, the Nuggets decided to invest in young players with room for growth. Cam Whitmore and Alpha Diallo are two examples of a strategy focused on seeking talent and potential without incurring a particularly high cost.

And now another operation has arrived that until recently seemed unlikely: the addition of Ryan Nembhard after the guard was waived.

Ryan Nembhard, a virtually low-risk bet

Nembhard stands at just 5'11", but his size has not prevented him from showing enough arguments to spark Denver's interest. The undrafted player set the record for assists by a rookie in a game, with 23, during his rookie season and left several flashes pointing to a potential for growth after his standout college career.

His last name is also familiar in the NBA. His brother, Andrew Nembhard, is already an important player for the Indiana Pacers. But Ryan will have to carve out his own path in the league, and the Nuggets have offered him an opportunity to do so.

The need for Denver at the point guard position also helps to understand the move. The franchise needed to bring in another player capable of filling that role and took advantage of the opportunity that arose after Nembhard was traded and subsequently waived.

The agreement will be through a two-way contract, so it will not impact the Nuggets' salary cap. Denver thus gets the chance to evaluate a young guard who has already shown some interesting things in the NBA without committing a significant part of its resources.

In short, it is a lottery bet.

It could pay off and become a relevant piece for the future of the Nuggets, but it could also not work out. In that second scenario, the cost for Denver would be very limited. The only notable consequence pointed out in this operation is the departure of KJ Simpson.

Denver seeks young talent again

The Nuggets already saw last season that these types of bets can yield rewards with Spencer Jones. Finding another valuable piece in Ryan Nembhard now would provide a significant boost for the future of the franchise.

But even if Nembhard does not end up playing a single game with Denver, the operation maintains an important characteristic: the risk is virtually nonexistent. The Nuggets have found an opportunity to bring in a young player with potential without compromising their salary structure.

And this is precisely where the importance of this move lies.

More than because of the immediate impact Ryan Nembhard may have, the operation is significant for the type of decision it represents. After several questioned moves over the past few years, the Nuggets seem to be showing a greater willingness to seek young talent, invest in players with room for growth, and take advantage of low-cost opportunities.

Nembhard's arrival fits perfectly into this new philosophy. Denver needed another point guard, found a young player available who had already shown flashes in the NBA, and decided to give him a chance through a two-way contract.

It does not guarantee anything for the future. Nembhard will still have to prove he can make a name for himself in the NBA, and the Nuggets will need to develop his potential properly. But the franchise has secured an opportunity that is virtually risk-free.

And, in this case, perhaps the most important factor is not Ryan Nembhard himself, but the change in the type of moves Denver is making. After several years in which some decisions left little room for optimism, the bet on Nembhard represents a different way of building the roster.

While the results of these operations are still to come, the direction taken this summer serves as a relevant signal for the future of the Nuggets.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Mercado NBA: Así han conseguido mejorar su plantilla los Nuggets de Jokic