Denver Gazette beat writer Vinny Benedetto takes you around the NBA and inside the Nuggets locker room:

NBA Insider

The final week of the NBA offseason is here.

The Nuggets will host media day on Monday before heading to San Diego for training camp. Denver will also start its preseason schedule in San Diego against the Timberwolves on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Here are three things to monitor throughout training camp:

1. Defining roles

The addition of Jonas Valanciunas should provide a better answer at backup center, but there are still some roles that need to be sorted out. Expect Cam Johnson to capably replace Michael Porter Jr. in Denver’s starting lineup. The biggest question comes at backup point guard. Jalen Pickett played the best basketball of his young career when given more playing time at the end of last season, but his viability as a full-time backup remains to be seen. Bruce Brown could be in line to play more point guard in his second stint with the Nuggets, if Pickett doesn’t win the job behind Jamal Murray in the preseason.

2. Adelman alterations

When David Adelman took over late in the regular season, there wasn’t much time to put his fingerprints on Denver’s style of play. Adelman did have quite a bit of say over the Nuggets’ offense during his time as an assistant, but this preseason will be the most extensive opportunity Adelman will have to change the Nuggets’ identity prior to his first full season in charge. One slight tweak from the postseason included the Nuggets using more zone defense. Ryan Saunders made some of the defensive decisions, and he’s now on the Grizzlies staff after not being retained in Denver.

3. Mr. Murray

Jamal Murray bucking a trend would go a long way toward the Nuggets getting off to a hot start. Murray’s developed a reputation for being a slow starter, hitting his stride around the holidays and continuing to elevate his game in the postseason. Injuries complicated last season, but Murray’s had a full offseason to prepare for the first time in a few years. If he can be a consistent No. 2, the Nuggets should look like contenders from the outset.

What I’m Reading

ESPN released the results of its offseason survey Monday, and the Nuggets were heavily featured.

The network polled 20 coaches, scouts and executives from around the league to get their thoughts heading into the season. Oklahoma City was picked to win the 2026 championship by 18 people with the Nuggets receiving the two other votes. The Nuggets also finished with four votes in the poll for which team had the best offseason, second only to Atlanta’s seven votes. The Michael Porter Jr.-for-Cam Johnson trade also received one vote for the offseason’s best move.

All but one of the 20 agreed Nikola Jokic is the best player with Luka Doncic receiving the other vote. The poll to pick next season’s MVP was closer, however. Jokic got seven votes to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s five. Doncic, Victor Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Edwards also received votes.

What They’re Saying

• The Nuggets will be back on 9News for 20 more games this season, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment announced Monday. The local NBC affiliate will also broadcast 20 Avalanche games with the usual Altitude Sports crew handling the coverage.

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring this fan-first partnership with TEGNA back for another year,” Kevin Demoff, KSE’s president of team and media operations said. “Last season’s overwhelming community response to this partnership reinforced our commitment to ensuring that the fans who support the Nuggets and Avs can cheer on their favorite teams even when they can’t be with us at Ball Arena.”

• Michael Malone joined Frank Isola and Brian Scalabrine on their Sirius XM radio show. The former Nuggets’ coach said he wants to get back into coaching, but only in the right situation. Malone recently agreed to be a full-time analyst for ESPN this season.

“It’s definitely something I’d love to get back in,” Malone said of coaching. “I still have a bad taste in my mouth with how things ended in Denver, and I’d love to go out on my own terms. With that being said, what I’ve learned over my many years in this league is how important it is to go to work every day with people you care about, you trust, you respect that are all pulling in the same direction. So, when I have a chance to go back to the NBA, I just want to make sure I’m working with a group of people that are like-minded, share a common vision and are willing to do whatever it takes to make that vision become a reality. If that situation pops up, I would love to get back on that sideline. I’m a competitor. I’m a teacher. I am a coach first and foremost, TV star second.”

What I’m Following

• Nikola Jokic’s second signature shoe is in the works. The brand that made his first sneaker, 361 Degrees, posted on X that it was going to stay quiet until the Joker 2 drops.
• The Nuggets signed Javante McCoy to a training camp deal Sunday. The 27-year-old has not played in an NBA game but has played for the Lakers’, Spurs’ and Pistons’ G League affiliates. The Milwaukee native played college basketball at Boston University. McCoy joins Kessler Edwards and Moses Brown on similar deals. All three will likely be waived and join the Grand Rapids Gold this season.
• Aaron Gordon and members of his family traveled to Sardinia, Italy, to visit one of the club’s Gordon’s late brother, Drew, played for during his career. Drew Gordon, who died last year, played for Italian club Dinamo Sassari in 2013.
• The Rockets received some brutal news on Monday. Starting point guard Fred VanVleet tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a team mini-camp in the Bahamas. That injury will put his season in jeopardy after an exciting offseason that included the trade for Kevin Durant. Houston will likely receive a disabled player exception worth $12.5 million but must stay under the first apron hard cap. The Rockets will need Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson to increase their responsibilities while VanVleet is out.
• Houston wasn’t the only team to receive some bad news this week. Miami guard Tyler Herro is expected to miss the start of the season after undergoing surgery on his left foot Friday. He’s expected to miss roughly eight weeks, which will impact the start of the season.