Nuggets Ink

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer and deputy sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene as the Nuggets enter the stretch run of the regular season. Among the topics discussed:

With news of Michael Porter Jr. beginning to go through one-on-one work at practices, what is the timeline for a potential return? How cautious are the Nuggets being about bringing him back? What sort of contributions can be reasonably expected? And who would be the odd man out in the rotation?

What are the chances we will see Jamal Murray in uniform this season? What would be a potential drop-dead date when the team makes a decision on whether or not to bring him back for the season?

DeMarcus Cousins has been a revelation as a sage veteran in the locker room and physical tone setter for the second unit. How critical has he been to the bench's success? Should we expect his role to continue even as others return from injury?

With the fifth-best record in the NBA since Jan. 1, the Nuggets find themselves with a legitimate shot at the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. Where will they end up in the standings? And who would the team like to see in the first round?

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer and deputy sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene with the NBA trade deadline looming following a successful six-game road trip for the Nuggets. Among the topics discussed:

+ What's the priority for the Nuggets at the trade deadline? Get a backup big man? Find a long defensive wing? What can executive Tim Connelly do around the margins to improve the prospects of the team? And what can they offer that will bring a worthwhile player back in return?

+ What did we learn about the Nuggets on this recent road trip -- one that saw the team go 4-2? Have Zeke Nnaji and Bones Hyland played their way into untouchable status in trade discussions? Is it time to give up on the DeMarcus Cousins experiment? Is Aaron Gordon now one of the bigger bargains in the league?

+ Nikola Jokic just won his third Western Conference Player of the Month award after notching seven triple-doubles in January. Where does the Nuggets big man stand in his quest to repeat as MVP? What must he do to overcome voter fatigue? And how much is his candidacy tied to the team's playoff seeding?

+ Singer looks back at his story on the All-Stars who reached out to Jamal Murray amid his rehabilitation from ACL surgery. What was the big takeaway from talking to Klay Thompson, Victor Oladipo and Zach Lavine?

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer and deputy sports editor Matt Schubert discuss Nikola Jokic's epic 49-14-10 triple-double amid another busy week for the Denver Nuggets. Among the topics discussed:

+ What did Wednesday's night's performance against the Clippers do for Nikola Jokic's MVP campaign? With the reigning MVP leading the league in a handful of categories, including most advanced metrics, could the tide be turning in Nuggets big man's favor? What needs to happen for him to win a second straight award?

+ A week after their trade with the Pistons was voided, the Nuggets once again dealt Bol Bol (and P.J. Dozier and a second-round pick) in a three-team deal that brought back guard Bryn Forbes. What will this addition do for the Nuggets? Is this an indication the front office is hopeful Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray will return before the end of the season?

+ The trade deadline is just three weeks away. Will the Nuggets look to upgrade their roster further? What position might they target? Who are some players who might be available to them? And what might the Nuggets have to give away to get something meaningful in return?

+ All-Star ballots are due for media members. Who does Mike Singer have on his ballot for the East and West starters?

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer and deputy sports editor Matt Schubert discuss what's been a newsy few days in the world of the Denver Nuggets. Among the topics discussed:

+ The Nuggets traded forward Bol Bol to the Detroit Pistons for wing Rodney McGruder and a second round pick. Why did the franchise decide to cut bait now? Was this just not the right situation for Bol to thrive? Why was he never able to consistently crack head coach Michael Malone's rotations? How long was the idea of trading Bol in the works? And was this a good enough return for a player with plenty of promise but little results to back it up?

+ Mercurial veteran post DeMarcus Cousins is on the verge of agreeing to a 10-day contract with the Nuggets. Is this a gamble worth taking for a team currently lacking post depth? What are the chances this works, given Malone's previous history with Cousins? How should we expect him to be used in Malone's rotations?

+ Michael Porter Jr. rejoined the team for a couple of days during their recent Texas road swing. How did the young forward look a month removed from his third back surgery? What are the chances either he or Jamal Murray is back on the court by the end of the season?

+ JaMychal Green posted back-to-back productive games after being moved into the starting rotation (by necessity). Is it possible starting JaMychal and bringing Jeff Green off the bench is the best option for the Nuggets?

Producer: AAron Ontiveroz

Music: "Follow the Leader" The Trujillo Company

In the latest edition of Nuggets Ink, beat writer Mike Singer is joined by Lance Stephenson to catch up on what the veteran guard has been up to over the past two years.

After a winding career that included showdowns with LeBron James in the NBA playoffs, and an overseas stint with the Liaoning Flying Leopards in China, Stephenson has landed with Denver Nuggets G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold. Nicknamed "Born Ready," Stephenson sits down with Singer to talk about his NBA career, experience in China and goals with the Nuggets/Gold.

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat reporter Mike Singer and deputy sports editor Matt Schubert discuss the state of the injury-riddled Nuggets. Among the topics:

+ Michael Porter Jr., is reportedly dealing with a nerve issue in his back that could jeopardize the rest of his season. What are the long- and short-term implications for the Nuggets? If MPJ is out for the season, what will that mean for the team's title contention hopes? And how will it impact the team's decision on when to bring back Jamal Murray?

+ When will Nikola Jokic return from his wrist injury? When he does come back, will he be able to keep Denver afloat as it deals with a roster pockmarked by injuries? Does Nuggets executive Tim Connelly need to find another big man to bolster the front court rotation?

+ The Nuggets are facing a brutal seven-game road trip to begin December, including a highly anticipated visit to Miami. What can we expect to learn about the team over the next three weeks?

Note: This podcast was recorded before P.J. Dozier suffered an injury during Tuesday night's game in Portland.

In an emergency edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer and deputy sports editor Matt Schubert discuss the Nikola Jokic-vs.-Markieff Morris melee with photojournalist AAron Ontiveroz.

Ontiveroz was on site when a Nuggets blowout over the Heat turned ugly Monday night at Ball Arena, devolving into chaotic scenes both on the court and in the back hallways. The fracas spilled over onto social media in the early morning hours Tuesday, as Marcus Morris and the Jokic brothers traded threats on Twitter and the rest of the sports world weighed in.

So what's next for the league's reigning MVP? Is a suspension inevitable? Does Jokic have a hair trigger that needs to be checked? How much responsibility should be laid at the feet of Markieff Morris? The crew discusses that and more.

In the latest Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer is joined by Nuggets guard Will Barton to talk about his career, the injury that led to him leaving the Orlando bubble in 2020, his recently released documentary and more. Now in his seventh season with the Nuggets (10th overall), Barton says he is the healthiest he has been in years. With Jamal Murray sidelined, Barton's role has expanded with the Nuggets this season and he believes he can continue to grow as Denver vies for a place atop the Western Conference.

In the latest Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer and Matt Schubert look back at the opening week of the Nuggets' 2021-22 season. With the Nuggets sitting at 2-2, the fellas contemplate some concerning early trends just four games into the campaign. Will Michael Porter Jr. begin to look like the max player he was signed to be? Will Bones Hyland's skills go unnoticed? Will Will Barton be the answer to Jamal Murray's indefinite absence? And of course, Bol Bol. These questions and more are addressed.

Producer: AAron Ontiveroz

Music: "Follow the Leader" The Trujillo Company

In the latest Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer is joined by The Ringer's Rob Mahoney to discuss his latest story "Michael Porter Jr. will get his moment... if he's ready for it."

After dropping to the 14th pick of the 2018 NBA draft, Porter's future was uncertain due to back problems, which significantly dropped his stock in a class featuring future stars Trae Young, Luka Doncic and Deandre Ayton. Despite early career injuries and Porter's outspoken stance on vaccinations heading into the 2021-22 NBA season, Mahoney's report from within Nuggets camp paints a picture of a team ready for MPJ to finally break through as the star he was billed as entering his college career at Missouri.