Fansided

Holiday wish list for every NBA team

By Ernest Shepard

Jun 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) fights for a loose ball with Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) during the third quarter in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) fights for a loose ball with Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) during the third quarter in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 15, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone (L) talks to guard Jameer Nelson (1) and forward Will Barton (5) in the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Nuggets won 112-100. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone (L) talks to guard Jameer Nelson (1) and forward Will Barton (5) in the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Nuggets won 112-100. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Denver Nuggets

Hiring Michael Malone to coach this talented, but youthful Denver Nuggets’ roster was genius on the part of the front office. He did so much with a disjointed Sacramento Kings’ club last year, before he was unceremoniously fired midway through a tough losing streak. To this day, Malone is the only head coach to coax DeMarcus Cousins to believe in a system. Malone now oversees a roster with the upside of Emmanuel Mudiay, Kenneth Faried and Danilo Gallinari.

Despite the upside of the roster, the Nuggets are not quite ready to compete for NBA titles just yet. They can flirt with a playoff appearance or two, but Denver is one true star away from doing some damage in the West.

Although it is a pipe dream, if you were to put Dwight Howard or Marc Gasol on this team and step back.

Some of you may scoff at the idea of Dwight Howard being a good fit on the Nuggets, but here is something to consider – Howard is vastly underutilized in Houston. The amount of isolation plays which Houston runs does not suit his abilities. With Denver, things would be different. Howard could help with the pick-and-roll offense that Malone implemented with Cousins.

It will not happen. Acquiring Dwight Howard, or a player of similar talent is wishful thinking.

Next: Detroit Pistons: Finding a Home For Brandon Jennings

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