2018-19: Western Conference playoff picture prediction

#7 Denver Nuggets

Image result for nikola jokic — Could he make his first All-Star team?

The Nuggets will be one of the more interesting teams to follow this coming season. They grabbed a potential steal of the draft with Michael Porter Jr. at pick 14 and were able to sign Isaiah Thomas to a cheap deal. They are winners of the offseason for the bargains they were able to snag.

The Nuggets could have made the playoffs last year if Paul Millsap hadn't missed a significant portion of the season. Obviously, we don't live in a world of hypotheticals, but as a result of last year, this team should be playing with a chip on their shoulders. The development of Jamal Murray and Gary Harris will be vital for the team going forward. The two of them averaged around 17 points per game last season.

If they can push that to over 18 for each of them, alongside Will Barton and Isaiah Thomas' scoring off the bench, and Michael Porter being what scouts originally thought he could be, the Nuggets could be one of the highest scoring teams in the league. They have the pieces, its just a matter of if they fit.

Role players like Tyler Lydon and Trey Lyles will be a good bench frontcourt presence if Millsap and Porter need rest. It is a very deep team and could run multiple rotations. The Nuggets do lack a traditional playmaking point guard. Jamal Murray is a good player and has the potential to be a great one, but he isn't a playmaker.

Isaiah Thomas has always been a score-first guard as well. The playmaking will come from their All-Star caliber talent in Nikola Jokic. I predict Jokic is going to have a great season with his team getting better around him. It will be tough to make the All-Star team with how many players can make it, but he should have a big year.