Nuggets Ink

In the latest Nuggets Ink podcast episode, beat writers Mike Singer and Kyle Fredrickson examine the Nuggets' Game 1 victory in Portland and what to expect when they take the floor Friday night for their home opener against the Suns. Topics include a possible debut for Michael Porter Jr., a favorable November road schedule, where Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic rank among NBA super-duos and much more.

In the latest Nuggets Ink podcast episode, beat writers Mike Singer and Kyle Fredrickson break down three major storylines developed through the course of preseason play. Topics include Michael Porter Jr.'s debut, the ongoing position battle at small forward, and how the Altitude Sports TV contract saga is expected to impact team viewership.

In the latest Nuggets Ink podcast episode, beat writers Michael Singer and Kyle Fredrickson examine the expectations for Michael Porter Jr. in his preseason debut and other storylines to follow through the team's exhibition play. Topics include the ongoing competition at small forward, Nikola Jokic's rising national profile and more.

Amid the dog days of NBA summer, Nuggets Ink podcast host Matt Schubert and beat writer Mike Singer meet to discuss the growing consensus that Denver is among the NBA elite. Singer, fresh off a Canadian engagement, addresses the wet blanket protestations of Schubert as they discuss a number of potential issues for next year's team. Among the topics:

+ The Nuggets were 13-3 in games decided by three points or less last season. Can they possibly keep that up? Or is it fair to expect a regression to the mean in those coin flip games?

+ Denver entered the offseason needing to add shooting, then went and traded for forward Jerami Grant. Is that enough to address the team's middle-of-the-pack 3-point marksmanship? Or will that problem linger?

+ Did the Nuggets bid against themselves in giving Jamal Murray a five-year, $170 million contract? Will he live up to those max dollars?

+ Are there enough minutes to go around on a team filled with players expecting, but not necessarily in line for, big minutes?

+ Hypothetically, are the Nuggets more San Antonio Spurs (a legit system) or Los Angeles Lakers (doomed without Lebron in the lineup) without a healthy Nikola Jokic?

+ Does Carmelo Anthony deserve a farewell tour? Will he get one?

With the summer free agent frenzy finally quieting down, Nuggets Ink podcast host Matt Schubert and beat writer Mike Singer check back in to talk about an earth shattering two weeks in the NBA. Among the topics:

* The first Friday of the NBA Summer League was filled with tremors, literal and metaphorical. Where does everyone stand in the wake of the aftershocks? Are the Nuggets still one of the Western Conference's top contenders?

* After standing pat for the first two weeks of free agency, the Nuggets made their big offseason addition trading for Jerami Grant. How does the versatile forward fit in with the front office's short- and long-term plans?  What sort of impact should fans expect from the acquisition?

* Jamal Murray got paid — 5 years, $170 million paid. Denver is now fully committed to its big two of Murray and Nikola Jokic. Where do those two rank in this NBA Jam era of team building?

* Did someone say Bradley Beal trade? What would the Nuggets need to offer to entice the Wizards to part with their star shooting guard? How would he fit alongside Jokic and Murray?

With NBA free agency upon us, Nuggets Ink podcast host Matt Schubert and beat writer Mike Singer go over all the options for Denver as it looks to keep up in the wild Western Conference arms race. Among the topics:

+ What about Paul? We're mere hours away from the franchise's moment of truth with Paul Millsap. Will the Nuggets exercise their team option and keep him for $30 million next season? Can they re-work a deal to keep him around at a cheaper annual price? Should they? What other options might they have?

+ Free agent fodder: We run down a long list of players available who the Nuggets could potentially sign, and debate which ones might offer the best fit. (Hint: None of them are Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler or Kyrie Irving.)

+ Stacked conference: With teams throughout the Western Conference already loading up on talent, are the Nuggets obligated to upgrade their roster? Where do they rank in the conference pecking order? How many Western Conference teams have a realistic shot at making the playoffs? Is there a world where Denver is left out?

+ NBA Awards: Outside of the show being hot garbage, what are some takeaways from this week's NBA Awards?

+ The legend of Bol Bol: For the second straight draft the Nuggets had a highly regarded big man fall into their laps in the NBA draft due to injury concerns. What should Nuggets fans expect to see out of Bol Bol this season? Is there a chance he sits out an entire season like Michael Porter Jr.?

With the NBA offseason officially here, Nuggets Ink podcast host Matt Schubert and beat writer Mike Singer dig in on an important summer for a franchise on the rise. Among the topics:

+ What do you take away from Denver's run to the Western Conference semifinals? Was the season an unqualified success? Did Denver actually benefit from not making the conference finals and (possibly) getting run off the court by the Golden State Warriors? What did we learn about the team's playoff newbies?

+ Where do the Nuggets stand in the Western Conference pecking order, especially in light of Kevin Durant's catastrophic Achilles injury? Can the Nuggets put themselves in the mix for the NBA title with it seemingly up for grabs?

+Nuggets executive Tim Connelly was pursued hard by his hometown Washington Wizards. What kept him in the Mile High City?

+What sort of moves can the Nuggets make this offseason? Will they be players in the free agent market? Who might they be able to add to the mix? And what are they going to do about Paul Millsap? Will he be back next season? Who might be on the way out?

+Michael Porter Jr. is set to make his Summer League debut in a Nuggets uniform. What can we expect from the rookie? Will he be on a minutes/game restriction?

After a month away, the Nuggets Ink podcast host Matt Schubert grills beat writer Mike Singer on a myriad of topics with the NBA playoffs on the horizon. Among the topics:

*Playoff positioning: Are the Nuggets locked in to the No. 2 seed? Or is there hope for a rise to No. 1 in the Western Conference? And where do you rank the Spurs, Clippers, Jazz and Thunder in terms of teams the Nuggets would like to see in a first-round matchup?

* Jamal Murray has hit a bit of a slump with his outside shot this month. Is that a trend the Nuggets should be worried about? And what about Malik Beasley, whose red-hot 3-point shooting has taken a hit in March as well?

* End-of-season awards: Who should be the first-team All-NBA center: Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid? What shot does Michael Malone have of winning Coach of the Year? Is there any chance Monte Morris or Malik Beasley gets Most Improved Player recognition? And who is keeping the Executive of the Year award away from Tim Connelly?

Podcast host Matt Schubert welcomes back Nuggets beat writer Mike Singer a day after Denver's dramatic victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Pepsi Center. Topics include:

• In appreciation of Paul Millsap, the sneaky hero of Tuesday night's win over OKC.

• Did the Thunder stumble into something putting Nerlens Noel on Nikola Jokic? Could that be a problem in a playoff series?

• What first-round matchup should the Nuggets be shooting for in the playoffs? Is the No. 1 seed worth the energy it would take to win it?

• Now that the Nuggets are fully healthy, what rotations are the most intriguing five-man lineups? Who's in Denver's crunch-time five?

• What are some goals for the Nuggets to focus on in the final 22 games of the regular season?

In the return of Nuggets Ink, podcast host Matt Schubert welcomes Nuggets beat writer Mike Singer to talk about a myriad of topics as the NBA All-Star break approaches. Topics include:

• What are the team's recalibrated expectations now that the Nuggets appear to be playoff locks?

• How is coach Michael Malone going to spread out minutes to a team long on depth and about to add Isaiah Thomas?

• What teams do the Nuggets want to avoid in the playoffs?

• Did the subject of Anthony Davis ever come up with the Nuggets? Is he a possibility this summer?

• Will Nikola Jokic get a first-team All-NBA selection? And how legitimate is the MVP talk?