But could they? If my numbers are right, they have ~$11 million to fill out the rest of their bench without hitting the second apron.

Unless the minimum agents they get are good good I still would give Nuggets the edge. Booker was shooting absurdly lights out in their 2 wins this year. KD wasn’t himself having to come right back from injury and didn’t get a lot of time with the team so I expect he’ll do better and booker will improve but the Nuggets likely get better as well. Nuggets are all just entering their prime and the core (besides Bruce) is under contract for another 2 years at least and Bruce even hinted at returning at the parade. Unless the suns get insane value back for Ayton I just think the Suns don’t have the defense or good enough 5-8 to offset that.