Following up on ESPN’s report that Michael Porter Jr. (back) is hoping to play at some point in March, Sam Amick of The Athletic provides some additional details, citing a source with knowledge of the situation who says the Nuggets forward is on track to return in mid-to-late March.
Sources tell The Athletic that there’s a “strong sense” within Denver’s locker room that both Porter and Jamal Murray (ACL tear) will be back in time for the playoffs, if not sooner. However, Murray’s timeline is trickier to pin down than Porter’s, according to Amick. Given the severity of Murray’s injury and the sensitivity with which the Nuggets have handled his recovery, the team figures to “handle the final stages of his process with the utmost care,” Amick writes.
Here’s more on the Nuggets:
- While Nuggets star Nikola Jokic would love to have his injured teammates back in the lineup, he’s not exactly seeking constant updates on their respective situations, as Amick relays. “To be honest, I don’t think about it,” Jokic said. “I’d rather them be healthy than to come back early, so I don’t even think about it. So I just wish them to get healthy, 100 percent.”
- Mike Singer and Mark Kiszla of The Denver Post discuss the potential impact of Porter’s return, disagreeing about whether he’ll re-enter the Nuggets’ starting lineup. Kiszla doesn’t think that will happen until next season, while Singer believes it makes sense to start MPJ once he’s ready in order to move Jeff Green to the bench and decrease Jokic’s offensive workload.
- The Nuggets’ second unit was a liability earlier in the season, but it has morphed into a legitimate weapon since the team traded for Bryn Forbes and signed DeMarcus Cousins, Singer writes in a separate article for The Denver Post. The club got a season-high 76 points from its bench in Sunday’s win over Portland, including a combined 39 points and 18 rebounds from Cousins and JaMychal Green.
Murray Barton MPJ Gordon and Jokic starting with Morris Frobes Jeff Green and Cousins off the bench. Throw in roles from Bones, JaMychal, Campazoo and Rivers it makes for a pretty solid team for the playoffs.
They still lack a solid defender or two and I think long term wise that’ll hurt them. Should look at Barton and a pair of second rounder for Smart.
Celtics can then have White as a starter at point and Barton off the bench as a scorer. Nuggets get Smart in the backcourt as a lockdown defender and leader next to Murray MPJ and Jokic.
I don’t think the Celtics go for that. Denver fans have been pondering whether Gary Harris could be had to shore up some defensive issues.
Austin Rivers has been defending really well recently, Davon Reed too but he’s probably not going to be signed to a season deal and wouldn’t crack the playoff rotation anyway.
Can’t see rivers staying. With Murray Barton Campazoo Rivers Morris Bones. Rivers could walk in FA and get a 6th man role elsewhere probably
Rivers really enjoys it here. Playing time or not. His defense has been spectacular and hit some big 3s for us recently. I’m not sure he walks anywhere. Remember he was sitting on his couch before the nuggets grabbed him. Not saying another team won’t try to scoop him up but all of these pieces are fitting so I don’t see Moach doing too much trimming the fat b4 playoffs. Of course guys like Howard, čančar and stuff will not factor in. And the health of mpj and Jamal is left to be seen. I guess we’ll see. Either way, go Nuggets! Playing great basketball right now!
Don’t be surprised to see Reed make the playoff rotation specifically for his defense alone. But with Campazzo so exploitable, having a solid defender in Reed might prove extremely valuable. Just from the internal talk I’ve heard it’s more than a possibility.
Nuggets have a deep team. Smart would help for sure. He is better than Barton, marginally but better. Problem is they need MPJ to become an all star level 4. And they need to move Gordon and Barton for a guy like PG13. That’s the level of player that would elevate this squad to the Finals. If they think Jaylen Brown could be that type of player, that’s who toy target.
They need a guy that can get 25 and defend the wing. Same problem as every team. But 100% healthy Murray, Brown, MPJ, Joker that squad would be my favorite to win the West next year.
Can’t see them getting brown without giving up Murray MPJ or Jokic. Gordon Barton and bigs won’t do it.
I think Smart for Barton just makes a ton of sense. Smart with his elite defence and really good leadership. I think he just fits into the Denver offence well too, can hit open shots, can cut for the Joker. Barton in Boston aswell just makes sense. Another good scoring option and some versatility. Especially coming from the bench they lack a go to guy from.
Going forward the Nuggets would have to really ask themselves. They came back from 3-1 down twice against the Jazz and Clippers.
Looking at teams in the west I think with Smart your dancing leads with 1 standout scorer like the Jazz and Mavs who you can throw Smart onto and then offensively they will struggle against Jokic Murray MPJ and so on. The Suns and Warriors are always going to be tough but with Smart you can try stop/slow down the outside shooting and just out score them with Jokic, Murray and MPJ. Smart vs CP3 and Murray vs Booker would actually be really entertaining.
For Boston, I think they still need to make other moves but Barton coming off the bench does make them better. Being in the east it’s going to be hard with the Nets, Bucks, Sixers and so on. For me I’d say Jaylen Brown for Bradley Beal (sign and trade), cut Horford (saves 12mil), then spend well in FA (Montrez Harrell, Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley).
Line up White Beal Tatum Theis R Williams and off the bench Rondo Barton Nesmith G Williams and Harrell.
Beal and Tatum give you 25 each, White Barton and Harrell 15 each that’s 95 from your best 5 scorers, G Williams will hit threes, R Williams will catch lobs, Rondo, Nesmith, Theis you’ll get points.
I think they definitely have enough to compete with other teams in the west especially when they bring back Murray and MPJ. They could have brought in a defensive wing player there just wasn’t one out there. And they didn’t have many assets to trade for anyone. As far as the Celtics trade if the Celtics wanted will Barton and 2 second round picks for Smart Denver would have done that along time ago. The Celtics aren’t willing to give up smart right now he is the heart and sole of that teams. If and when they want to trade smart it will cost denver Barton probably a first and a couple second maybe more. He won’t be cheap that’s for sure.
I think they definitely have enough to compete with other teams in the west especially when they bring back Murray and MPJ. They could have brought in a defensive wing player there just wasn’t one out there. And they didn’t have many assets to trade for anyone. As far as the Celtics trade if the Celtics wanted will Barton and 2 second round picks for Smart. Denver would have done that along time ago. The Celtics aren’t willing to give up smart right now he is the heart and sole of that team. If and when they want to trade smart it will cost Denver Barton probably a first and a couple seconds maybe more. He won’t be cheap that’s for sure.