3 Lessons Celtics must learn from Nuggets' failed title defense
By Jack Simone
3. Being cheap out doesn’t work
After the Denver Nuggets won their rings in 2023, ownership decided to cut costs. Rather than spending money to keep their championship core together, they went the cheaper route.
They let Bruce Brown walk in free agency, they didn’t bring back Jeff Green, and fast forward to this summer, they also decided not to re-sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Instead, the Nuggets placed a bet on their young core: Guys like Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, and Julian Strawther. Last year, it didn’t pan out. They felt the loss of Brown and Green, and they will undoubtedly feel the loss of Caldwell-Pope last year.
Just because a team wins a championship doesn’t mean they are destined to win another, and the Nuggets learned that the hard way. The Celtics don’t plan to fall victim to the same fate.
Boston’s ownership played their cards right this summer. They did the exact opposite of the Nuggets. Heading into next season, the Celtics are bringing back nearly the same exact core as last year.
The Celtics re-signed Xavier Tillman, Luke Kornet, and Neemias Queta and inked Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Sam Hauser to brand new extensions.
After the Nuggets failed to win another title after being cheap out, the Celtics weren’t going to go down the same path.
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