3 ways in which Michael Porter Jr.'s injury after back surgery will impact the season for Denver Nuggets

#2 Production to Replace

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon will need to carry the load offensively

With Michael Porter Jr. expected to miss the remainder of the season, the Nuggets are going to need to find someone to replace the production of the talented forward. There's no denying that the eventual return of big man Nikola Jokic will do wonders for this team, but Jokic won't be able to carry the load by himself. One name that could need to step up for this team is veteran forward Aaron Gordon. The versatile forward also signed a contract extension this offseason with the organization, and he will need to do everything he can to help this Nuggets team get back on the right track. Gordon has been strong with his play as of late. In his last eight games, Gordon is averaging 16.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 53.8% from the field and 42.9% from downtown. The team could also look to a number of pieces on their roster to step up, including rookie guard Bones Hyland, who is still fighting for more playing time.

#1 A Lost Season for Denver?

Denver Nuggets star Jamal Murray continues to work his way back to the court

Although it remains early in the 2021-22 regular season, the Denver Nuggets are starting to swim in troubled waters. With so many valuable assets already sidelined, the Nuggets might be dealing with too much adversity to overcome. The first and most important thing for the organization will be getting superstar big man Nikola Jokic back into the mix. After that, the team can reevaluate and see what direction they are heading in before making any drastic decisions. With Michael Porter Jr. expected to miss the remainder of the season, it remains unlikely the team will try to "rush" back their other star in Jamal Murray. It will also be interesting to see where the team is at when the trade deadline approaches. If the team can get back on the right track, the Nuggets could also look to the trade market to add some talent to the roster with the latest news that Michael Porter Jr. is expected to miss the remainder of the season.