Nuggets open to ‘running it back,’ but could move a starter

The Nuggets keep saying “run it back.” That doesn’t mean standing still.

President Josh Kroenke made that clear at his end-of-season session. Same idea. Not necessarily the same roster.

“When I say running it back, you’re talking about different variations,” Kroenke said, via Bennett Durando of the Denver Post. “Is it the exact same team? I don’t think there’s ever the exact same team. But the same core group? Potentially.”

That core is pretty obvious. Nikola Jokic. Jamal Murray. Aaron Gordon. Everything else feels more flexible.

There’s a path where Denver keeps that trio and reshapes the rotation around it. League sources told The Denver Post a starter could be moved this summer, with Cameron Johnson or Christian Braun among the names to watch. Re-signing Peyton Watson could factor into that equation.

Then there’s the money side. The Nuggets are already tracking into tax territory. Staying out for a second straight year would reset the repeater clock. Not easy to pull off.

Kroenke didn’t dodge it.

“If we deem running it back the most competitive thing, that’s probably what we’re going to do,” he said. “We love to pay for talent on the floor.”

Translation: The core stays. The rest is in play.