"The mere existence of Nikola Jokić is enough!" A summer that doesn't look so bad if the forecast holds true!

The Denver Nuggets' biggest move this summer wasn't an acquisition, but a loss. Last week, they sent Peyton Watson to the Cavaliers in a sign-and-trade deal. Shortly after, they signed DeMar DeRozan to a one-year contract, making him their most significant addition.

This isn't exactly the position fans hoped to see the team in, but if ESPN's forecast holds true, this summer might not look so bad after all, writes Jordana Clark.

ESPN published an article projecting the final conference standings for the East and West. As expected, the Spurs and Thunder are at the top of the West (in that order), while the Nuggets are projected to finish 3rd, just as they did last season.

A considerable gap would still exist between San Antonio (62-20), Oklahoma City (60-22), and Denver (51-31). However, the mere fact that the Nuggets are ranked so highly might surprise many, given how the last two months—or more accurately, the last week—have unfolded.

Michael Wright cited the mere existence of Nikola Jokić as the reason you can't write off the Nuggets. And while that's 100 percent true (I mean, have you seen his stats from last season?), it's still somewhat hard to believe they'll reach 50 wins next season.

Now, no one should seriously believe that Denver will miss the playoffs next season. Watson's departure didn't render them completely irrelevant, but it did make their roster weaker than it was at the start of the summer, which is certainly not an ideal situation.

Signing DeRozan provides a much-needed scorer off the bench, but their defense remains a major question mark. The key question is whether Alpha Diallo can truly replace Peyton Watson, even if they have similar defensive numbers.

However, not only is Jokić—well, Jokić—but Jamal Murray is a star entering the season after one of the best campaigns of his career. Aaron Gordon is an elite role player when healthy, which is a concern, but he was still worth keeping for at least one more season due to his on-court impact.

Cam Johnson is entering his second full season in Denver, so he shouldn't have the same rust issues he experienced early last year. Meanwhile, Christian Braun can start proving he was worth the five-year contract extension that kicks in this season.

When you look at who remains in Denver, it's not just Jokić plus a few random players, so it wouldn't be a surprise if the Nuggets finish third in the West again. They have a proven championship core, but the rest of the conference (and the league) has only gotten better.

Things have changed in the last three years. Outside of the top two spots (and even that isn't guaranteed, though it's a safe bet), Denver could finish anywhere between 3rd and 6th (and hopefully no lower). ESPN projects the Rockets to finish with the same record as the Nuggets, right behind them, with the Timberwolves in 5th (50-32) and the Lakers in 6th (45-37).

This will be another season where literally every game matters.

You might not be fully convinced that Denver will finish as a top team in the West, especially if you're still frustrated with how the summer played out, but the fact is the Nuggets haven't fallen by the wayside. They can still contend for a title; finishing 3rd in the regular season won't mean much once the playoffs start, but—it would be nice!