Denver Nuggets season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

Yes, they have all-world center Nikola Jokić , and yes, they have Jamal Murray and plenty of other talented pieces. But key role players struggled to develop, and a debilitating salary cap situation have left the Nuggets in a precarious position.

So, while the Nuggets finished third in the West last season, they'll need those role players to ease some of the pressure off Jokić and Murray, especially considering that the San Antonio Spurs , Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves — Denver's three biggest threats in the conference — are each superb defensive teams.

1 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2026: New York Knicks (beat San Antonio Spurs in five games) (Dustin Safranek, Imagn Images) 1 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2026: New York Knicks (beat San Antonio Spurs in five games) (Dustin Safranek, Imagn Images) 2 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2025: Oklahoma City Thunder (beat Indiana Pacers in seven games) (Kyle Terada, Imagn Images) 3 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2024: Boston Celtics (beat Dallas Mavericks in five games) (Peter Casey, USA TODAY Sports) 4 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2023: Denver Nuggets (beat Miami Heat in five games) (Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports) 5 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2022: Golden State Warriors (beat Boston Celtics in six games) (Adam Glanzman, Getty Images) 6 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2021: Milwaukee Bucks (beat Phoenix Suns in six games) (Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports) 7 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2020: Los Angeles Lakers (beat Miami Heat in six games) (Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports) 8 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2019: Toronto Raptors (beat Golden State Warriors in six games) (Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports) 9 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2018: Golden State Warriors (beat Cleveland Cavaliers in four games) (David Richard, USA TODAY Sports) 10 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2017: Golden State Warriors (beat Cleveland Cavaliers in five games) (Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports) 11 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2016: Cleveland Cavaliers (beat Golden State Warriors in seven games) (Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports) 12 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2015: Golden State Warriors (beat Cleveland Cavaliers in six games) (Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports) 13 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2014: San Antonio Spurs (beat Miami Heat in five games) (Brendan Maloney, USA TODAY Sports) 14 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2013: Miami Heat (beat San Antonio Spurs in seven games) (Brendan Maloney=, USA TODAY Sports) 15 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2012: Miami Heat (beat Oklahoma City Thunder in five games) (US PRESSWIRE) 16 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2008: Boston Celtics (beat Los Angeles Lakers in six games) (GABRIEL BOUYS, AFP via Getty Images) 17 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2005: San Antonio Spurs (beat Detroit Pistons in seven games) (ROBERT SULLIVAN, AFP via Getty Images) 18 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2004: Detroit Pistons (beat Los Angeles Lakers in five games) (Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images) 19 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2003: San Antonio Spurs (beat New Jersey Nets in six games) (JAMES NIELSEN, AFP via Getty Images) 20 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2002: Los Angeles Lakers (beat New Jersey Nets in four games) (Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY) 21 / 33 NBA champions through the years 2001: Los Angeles Lakers (beat Philadelphia 76ers in five games) (STAN HONDA, AFP via Getty Images) 22 / 33 NBA champions through the years 1999: San Antonio Spurs (beat New York Knicks five games) (TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AFP via Getty Images) 23 / 33 NBA champions through the years 1997: Chicago Bulls (beat Utah Jazz in six games) (JEFF HAYNES, AFP via Getty Images) 24 / 33 NBA champions through the years 1996: Chicago Bulls (beat Seattle SuperSonics in six games) (PAUL BUCK, AFP via Getty Images) 25 / 33 NBA champions through the years 1995: Houston Rockets (beat Orlando Magic in four games) (PAUL BUCK, AFP via Getty Images) 26 / 33 NBA champions through the years 1994: Houston Rockets (beat New York Knicks in seven games) (BOB STRONG, AFP via Getty Images) 27 / 33 NBA champions through the years 1993: Chicago Bulls (beat Phoenix Suns in six games) (US PRESSWIRE) 28 / 33 NBA champions through the years 1992: Chicago Bulls (beat Portland Trail Blazers in six games)