Should the Nuggets make a trade? Jamal Murray had a great year, but disappeared in the playoffs. Can he be the guy that helped them get over the hump again? Don’t know. Aaron Gordon is a tough one. The last two seasons have seen injuries piling up, and he isn’t the player he used to be. Christian Braun came back ugly and looked terrified to shoot in the playoffs after a long injury layoff. I think he can get his head right again, and he’s a hell of a player when his head is right.

– Z-man, Denver

Kiz: Armchair general managers are screaming for a Murray trade. I’m not eager to let him go. A flashy, win-now trade involving Murray doesn’t make sense to me, because I don’t see Jaylen Brown getting Denver past Oklahoma City or San Antonio in the West. If you’re going to trade Murray, the Nuggets must get younger and tougher. So how about this deal? Murray to Toronto, where he’d be welcomed as a national hero. The Raptors send Denver Immanuel Quickley to run the offense and 21-year-old forward Collin Murray-Boyles, betting that a rookie who averaged 14 points on 65% shooting in the playoffs has All-Star appearances in his future. Bottom line: If the Nuggets want to gamble on trading Murray, the goal shouldn’t be a star-for-star trade, but a remake of the team’s personality.

I’ve wanted the Nuggets to trade Murray for a decade. This is my time.

– K.W., Denver

Kiz: Murray is a combo guard who can score with the best of them. His pure skills as a point guard, however, are no better than average. If the Nuggets can find a trade partner for Cam Johnson or Braun, I’d like to see the Nuggets acquire a rock-solid, veteran point guard to alleviate some of Murray’s ballhandling and defensive burdens.

The Americans can go as far in the World Cup as their backline takes them.

– D.W., defensive-minded

Kiz: Two games. Two victories. Through to the knockout round. What’s not to like about the USMNT? Our lads have a swagger never before demonstrated at the World Cup. But against Australia, when they tried to sit back in the second half, U.S. players seemed uncomfortable and scattered while trying to protect a 2-nil lead. Win the group, and the USMNT might not have to face a strong offensive side until the Round of 16. But when facing a team that can score, I’m afraid the Americans might get shelled.

Kiz, you wrote a great column on Sean Payton and Bo Nix. Nix seems like the real deal: ultra-competitive, morally centered, loved by teammates, kind, smart and funny. What’s not to like? Bad ankles. I really hope the surgical repairs work, because without a healthy Nix, the Broncos do not escape the mediocrity of the past decade.

– Matt, repping the 303

Kiz: The top five quarterbacks in Broncos history? No. 1: John Elway (duh); No. 2: Peyton Manning (Omaha!) ; No. 3: Craig Morton (RIP); No. 4: Jake Plummer (Snake!); No. 5: Nix (moving up the ranks).

And today’s parting shot is a warning to CU football fans: Deion Sanders made it fun to be a Buffs fan again, but the party’s over.

Deion is past his Prime.

– Adi, jokes on demand