The Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets arguably have the best rivalry in the league. Thankfully, after their first-round series win over Denver, it feels like the Wolves have a real leg up. And this offseason is further evidence that the Timberwolves have separated themselves from the Nuggets.
After the first-round, it was clear to everyone who watched that the Nuggets needed an infusion of defense and athleticism. As Jaden McDaniels famously put it, they're all bad defenders. Minnesota even closed out Denver with Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo sidelined.
Spare me the Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson excuses, Nuggets fans. Yes, those are Denver's two best defenders and athletes, but they wouldn't have been enough to beat the Wolves, or certainly the other best teams in the West.
Instead of upgrading these flaws, the Nuggets have stood pat, with their lone addition being Marvin Bagley III. Good luck improving.
Conversely, the Timberwolves' lack of playmaking and creation alongside Anthony Edwards was exposed in the second-round against the San Antonio Spurs, and they, of course, addressed this flaw by trading for LaMelo Ball. As such, the Timberwolves have built more separation from the Nuggets thanks to Tim Connelly's unrelenting desire to build a title-winning team.
The Timberwolves should be thrilled by the Nuggets' inactive offseason
Now, there are some fair counters to the Nuggets' offseason direction. Firstly, they are waiting for the LeBron James saga to play out. They have been mentioned as a dark-horse suitor, but to really make an intriguing pitch, they should improve their roster, not stand pat.
Peyton Watson's restricted free agency also looms over the Nuggets. Currently, the two sides are far apart in negotiations, which could lead to a sign-and-trade. Even if they reach an agreement, the Nuggets will have to shed salary elsewhere to ensure they're under the second tax apron.
It's a lose-lose for the Nuggets on some level. They will either lose their best defender and athlete or cut into their depth. Simply put, there's virtually no path for them to improve at this point.
Look, with Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets will always have a high regular season floor. However, the Timberwolves proved that this team is no longer built to win in the playoffs, and they've done nothing to change that this offseason, which feels like a trend poised to continue.
There could be some bumps along the road in LaMelo's first season with the Timberwolves, and at some point they'll need to add another forward. Make no mistake, though, this team has significantly more championship upside, and they improved this summer.
The Timberwolves' offseason certainly looks even better in the context of Denver's offseason. And it's not just Denver; teams like the Houston Rockets didn't make any major roster additions despite clear roster flaws. The Los Angeles Lakers did, but who are their on-ball stoppers?
My point is that the Timberwolves have a clear path to establishing themselves as the biggest threat to the Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Without a doubt, the events of the offseason thus far set the Timberwolves up to do this and forget about the Nuggets for good.
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