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Nuggets in the Olympics: Good or Bad?

By Tim Hart

February 19, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Denver Nuggets center Joffrey Lauvergne (77, top) dunks the basketball against Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore (23) during the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Kings defeated the Nuggets 116-110. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
February 19, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Denver Nuggets center Joffrey Lauvergne (77, top) dunks the basketball against Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore (23) during the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Kings defeated the Nuggets 116-110. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 5, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) guards Denver Nuggets center Joffrey Lauvergne (77) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Thunder defeated the Nuggets 124-102. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) guards Denver Nuggets center Joffrey Lauvergne (77) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Thunder defeated the Nuggets 124-102. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Two players from the Denver Nuggets’ NBA roster have been named starters for their respective Olympic National Teams, which may affect the Nuggets’ upcoming 2016-17 NBA season in both good and bad ways.

Nikola Jokic will play for Serbia. This comes as a modest surprise, given the success of his 2015-16 rookie season, and Joffrey Lauvergne (pictured above), playing for France, alongside the likes of Tony Parker, Boris Diaw, and Nicolas Batum, who has surprised more.

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    • Lauvergne had a decent season last year, which was his second as a Nugget. He ultimately found a role-playing position, coming off the bench for rebounds and inside scoring, with the occasional jumper and blocked shot going his way too.  While major steps of improvement were certainly made, Lauvergne still had a long way to go before he could be considered for a starting position.

    Or perhaps not; the French national team named Lauvergne as their starting center. With a considerable amount of NBA talent, they pose one of the biggest (albiet unlikely) threats to team USA’s quest for Olympic gold. In Rio, Lauvergne, like Jokic, will have a shot at big minutes, and should have plenty of opportunities to turn heads.

    This could be great for the Denver Nuggets.

    Next: The Benefits

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