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.

Denver traded Dario Saric to Sacramento to acquire Valanciunas last week, but things got complicated amid reports the 33-year-old hoped to make a move to Greek club Panathinaikos. He reportedly traveled to Athens to meet with the team, but there's still one guaranteed year left on Valanciunas's contract.

The Nuggets have made a final decision on Jonas Valanciunas after acquiring him in a trade from the Kings this offseason.