Denver replenished its lineup and looks poised to regain contender status. The Lakers, meanwhile, don't seem to be among the West's best on paper.

Denver Nuggets exec Jonathan Wallace said the team was "further along" than it may have appeared. They had to be "deliberate" in the offseason, he told reporters, but, with the best player in the world on the roster and an elite starting five,

The Denver Nuggets saw one of their former champions leave during free agency and head overseas to the EuroLeague.

Though Jonas Valančiūnas has drawn interest from teams in Europe following his trade to the Denver Nuggets from the Sacramento Kings, his new team reportedly expects him to suit up in the NBA this year.

The Nuggets have a logical reason behind their reported inclination to block Jonas Valanciunas' reported move to Panathinaikos.

According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the Denver Nuggets do not intend to let Jonas Valanciunas out of his NBA contract. Valanciunas, who was traded by the Sacramento Kings to the Nuggets, wants to leave the NBA for Panathinaikos.