text: If the Nuggets were serious about trying to build a championship team they would not have traded away a guy who will be an All Star next year if healthy for a stiff - and thrown in a first round draft pick. They would not have been chasing a meaningless (other than a couple million in the Kroenke's pockets) 8th seed and would have been tanking to get into position to draft a guy who could be a star. Following Kiszla and Connelly's path the Nuggets are firmly on course to NBA purgatory. Bouncing around the 8th to 5th seed, some years just missing the playoffs. Maybe once in a while pulling off a first round upset in the playoffs. But absent high draft picks no chance of landing a LeBron or Durant. Connelly has one gold star on his resume so far - Jokic and one wasted 7th round pick in Mudiay. The jury is  still out on Murray. In a draft that is deep, even if weak at the top, the Nuggets need to select a player who will be a starter for them within two seasons.