Offseason grades for Los Angeles Lakers and their West foes
By Simon Brady
Denver Nuggets: C+
The looming, murky essay question to this test result is the mysterious RJ Hampton who fell to the Nuggets in the draft. A former high school phenom who decided to take his talents to the NBL and opt-out of college ball, is a big question mark after some injuries marginalized him in Australia.
But with great size, athleticism, raw talent and playmaking ability at 6’5, he could very well pop and become a star at the NBA level. An interesting dynamic given the similarities that Nuggets young forward Michael Porter Jr, who showed some eye-popping flashes in the bubble, dealt with entering the league.
But alas, that’s a big unknown. As for the rest of the Nugs offseason, it was pretty snoozy. They lost athletic presence in forward Jerami Grant to Detroit. They lost their interior staple as well in Mason Plumlee. Far from huge losses, but when all you have to show for it in response is adding Jamychal Green, that’s just not good enough.
Not good enough for a surefire west contender, coming off a conference finals appearance. But one who is firmly in the ‘good, on the radar but certainly can’t get over the hump’ camp as currently constructed. It’ll be fun to see the young dynamic duo of Murray and Jokic grow into 2021 nonetheless.