Locked On Nuggets - Daily Podcast On The Denver Nuggets

This is Part 1! Matt Moore and Ryan Blackburn do a Tier List of the best NBA Starting Units and see where the Denver Nuggets rank. Unfortunately, the list sparks some outrage. Swipa joins at the end, make sure to listen the Part 2 to see his full reaction!

Indeed

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The Denver Nuggets are definitely a different team this year but they should be able to take advantage of their size and length in ways they haven't before but it's going to take creativity from David Adelman to accomplish this task.

Swipa and Ryan have an enjoyable Friday show and talk about reasons for optimism, Cam Johnson, breakout players, Christian Braun, and more.

Indeed

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Plus, what are you actually optimistic about, and what's the biggest thing we don't know from this offseason? 

FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season. Network Initiatives Horizontal Teasing - Tease and push what you will be doing tomorrow or later in the week on the show. When you come out of a commercial, “Thanks for making Locked On Giants your first listen and tomorrow we will be looking at the bullpen to see if we can find a solution to the issues.” “Thanks for making Locked on Flames your first listen and remember Thursday is always Throwback Thursday on the show this week we look back at ....” First Listen - Start your podcast every day thanking your listeners for making you their first listen. The primary goal is to "train" your listener to make Locked On the first listen of their day and therefore increase the amount of episodes they listen to in a week. Sponsor Show Notes (include all in each episode) Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Thank God for Aaron Gordon: Denver Nuggets fans have a new reason to celebrate as Aaron Gordon leads team-building efforts this offseason, proving once again why he’s the soul of the franchise. Gordon’s commitment to uniting the roster—globe-trotting with teammates, organizing workouts in Puerto Rico, and mentoring young talent—sets the tone for Denver’s pursuit of another deep NBA playoff run.

The conversation focused on Gordon’s crucial leadership, the importance of chemistry in navigating grueling NBA seasons, and the ripple effects of offseason workout culture. Key themes include evaluating Denver’s best non-starter lineups, how DeMar DeRozan's arrival impacts rotation strategy, and the front office’s controversial decision to let Kentavious Caldwell-Pope walk. The discussion explored the Michael Porter Jr.–Lonzo Ball “trolley problem,” raising questions about locker room dynamics, moral dilemmas, and how player personalities shape a championship culture. Will the Denver Nuggets’ new mix of veterans and emerging stars be enough to defend their crown?

00:00 Aaron Gordon’s Offseason Leadership

10:46 Nuggets Non-Starter Lineups Analysis

25:04 MPJ, Ethics, and the Trolley Problem

Indeed

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Matt Moore and Ryan Blackburn discuss DeMar DeRozan as the sixth man for the Denver Nuggets in the 2026-27 season and how the Nuggets should handle his role throughout the year. They also discuss where the Nuggets must excel as a team and pitfalls they can avoid with an offensively centric rotation. Finally, they discuss Nikola Jokic gearing up for FIBA qualifiers with Team Serbia. 

Indeed

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Denver Nuggets land former All-Star DeMar DeRozan on a one-year deal—can his midrange mastery and shot creation elevate the Nuggets’ title hopes, or will defensive concerns hold them back?

Matt unpacks DeMar DeRozan’s fit in Denver, spotlighting his elite scoring from the midrange, improved playmaking, and veteran consistency alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. The discussion explores DeRozan’s impact on offensive spacing, potential lineup combinations, and the risks of adding another liability to the Nuggets’ already shaky defense. With eye-popping stats, lineup dilemmas, and concerns over non-Jokic minutes, this episode raises key questions about Denver’s bench depth and ceiling for the upcoming NBA season.

Is DeRozan the missing piece the Nuggets need, or will his arrival create more questions than answers in Mile High City?

00:00 DeMar DeRozan Signs: Breakdown & First Impressions

11:19 Defensive Impact & Metrics Concerns

19:47 Lineup Fit, Bench Units, and Team Ceiling

Indeed

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Serbia beats France and Nikola Jokic looks like the BITW once again. Ryan and Swipa break down his game. Also...is DeMar DeRozan going to help save Denver's future? How does Ryan feel about the Peyton Watson trade now?

Indeed

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The Nuggets don't get a starter back, don't get a player back, but hey, they picked up a first-round pick and a second so that's nice, but Peyton Watson is gone. We react. 

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. Cozy Earth Head to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDON for an exclusive 20%. Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Denver Nuggets fans face a crucial question—what five victories would mean the most in the upcoming NBA season, and what rivalries truly matter? Matt Moore and Ryan Blackburn argue over their must-win list, spotlighting fierce matchups against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers, and Houston Rockets, and debate the impact of marquee games on the Nuggets’ playoff hopes. The hosts challenge the narrative around playoff seeding, rivalry importance, and whether emotional wins can propel the Nuggets past key Western Conference threats.

The episode also unpacks Denver’s ongoing Peyton Watson restricted free agency saga, dissecting possible trade scenarios, CBA roadblocks, and the value of draft picks versus proven talent like Aaron Gordon. Listener questions spark deeper analysis of the Timberwolves’ roster depth, LaMelo Ball’s durability, and Denver’s offseason strategy. With fast-paced banter and sharp NBA insights, this is essential listening for anyone tracking the Denver Nuggets’ path to another championship run.

00:00 Most Wanted Nuggets Wins:

06:29 Key Matchups and Schedule:

13:11 Wolves Roster and Denver's Offseason:

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Jamal Murray has a chance to take ANOTHER leap next season and no one seems to be considering what this could mean for Denver next year. Could Jamal Murray...become 1 of the 5 best guards in the NBA next year? What would need to change? Can the Nuggets help him defensively and with ball-handling? What are some key guard-to-guard matchups to pay attention to? 

Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. Cozy Earth Head to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDON for an exclusive 20%. Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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