If the season started today, 25-year old Timofey Mozgov would likely be the starting center for the Nuggets. Mozgov played in 45 games (14 starts) as a rookie for the Knicks & Nuggets last year and he averaged 11.6 minutes, 3.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. It will be interesting to see if Mozgov steps up. 33-year old Chris Andersen will also get minutes at center (as well as power forward) for the Nuggets this year. The Bird Man played in 45 games (0 starts) for the Nuggets last year and he averaged 16.3 minutes, 5.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 450 games (9 starts) in his NBA career so far and he is averaging 18.0 minutes, 5.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.6 blocked shots per game. Andersen gives an outstanding effort at both ends of court and he often inspires his teammates with his hustle. 22-year old Kosta Koufos is likely #3 in line for the Nuggets. He played in 50 games (2 starts) for the Timberwolves & Nuggets last year and he averaged 8.7 minutes, 3.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game. He has now played in 134 games (9 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 8.7 minutes, 3.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.

31-year old Al Harrington could be the starting power forward for the Nuggets in 2011-12. Harrington played in 73 games (3 starts) for the Nuggets last year and he averaged 22.8 minutes, 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He has now played in 873 games (444 starts) in his NBA career so far this year and he has averaged 29.3 minutes, 13.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. 22-year Kenneth Faried will likely be the starter at some point in his rookie season. The Nuggets took Faried in the first round of the NBA Draft last June and he is a fierce rebounder, which is an area in which they need help.

23-year old small forward Danilo Gallinari will be in his first full season with the Nuggets in 2011-12. Gallinari played in 62 games (60 starts) for the Knicks & Nuggets last year in which he averaged 33.9 minutes, 15.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. He has now played in 171 games (136 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he is averaging 30.8 minutes, 13.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. 20-year old small forward Jordan Hamilton will back up Gallinari in 2011-12. He came to the Nuggets in the big Andre Miller/Raymond Felton deal during the NBA Draft. Hamilton was a first round pick last June who played very well for the Texas Longhorns last year, so he has a nice upside.

The Nuggets have 23-year old Ty Lawson and 35-year old Andre Miller on the roster right now. It will be interesting to see how George Karl splits up the time here as both of these guys are starting players. Lawson played in 80 games (31 starts) for the Nuggets last year and he averaged 26.3 minutes, 11.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.0 steal per game. He has now played in 145 games (39 starts) in his first two years with the Nuggets and he is averaging 23.6 minutes, 10.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Lawson has shot 50.7% from the floor, 40.6% from three point range and 76.2% from the free throw line so far in his career and those are excellent numbers. Andre Miller is one of the most underrated point guards in NBA history. He played in 81 games (all starts) for the Trailblazers last year and he averaged 32.7 minutes, 12.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Miller has now played in 978 games (915 starts) in is NBA career and he has averaged 34.4 minutes, 14.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game so far in his career. The Nuggets are really loaded at the point for 2011-12.

59-year old George Karl has beaten cancer once again and he is returning to lead the Nuggets. Karl led the Nuggets to a 53-29 record during the regular season but the Nuggets got beat 4 games to 2 in the first round of the playoffs. Karl has now been the head coach of the Nuggets for six years and he has a regular season record of 278-172 (61.8%) and he is 15-26 (36.6%) in the playoffs. Karl will be without Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen due to injury early in the year and that’s going to be tough. Even tougher will be dealing with Carmelo Anthony who doesn’t want to be in Denver any more. George Karl has a career record during the regular season of 986-671 (59.5%) and he is 74-93 (44.3%) during the playoffs. Hopefully Karl will stay healthy all season long so he can add to his career totals in a positive way in 2010-11.