Nugg Love
Fansided

Is Trey Lyles effectively done with the Nuggets?

By Chris Bolin

DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 11: Trey Lyles #7 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball against the Miami Heat on February 11, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 11: Trey Lyles #7 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball against the Miami Heat on February 11, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Trey Lyles was a valuable piece of the Denver Nuggets second unit last season, but he’s struggled this season. Has he played his last meaningful minutes as part of the Nuggets?

When Trey Lyles checked out of the Denver Nuggets game against the Miami Heat with just over seven minutes left in the second quarter, the look on his face was one of a guy who knew he was playing himself out of the rotation.

He had just missed his first four shots of the game — the last being a 3-pointer blocked by James Johnson.

At that point the Nuggets were up 39-38, but the Heat were in the middle of an extended 12-4 run and had all the momentum.

He didn’t check back in until the Nuggets were up 103-85 with under two minutes left in the game, along with Jauncho Hernangomez and Jarred Vanderbilt — both getting on the court for the first time.

He finished 0 for 5 from the field with one rebound in six minutes.

It was just the latest dissapointing game in a dissapointing season.

Lyles is averaging 9.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 19.1 minutes this season — very similar to his splits last year. But he’s been nowhere near as efficient.

He’s shooting just 42.9 percent from the field and just 26 percent from beyond the arc — down from 49.1/38.1 percent last season.

He was supposed to be the leader of the second unit, but instead has been more of a liability — on both offense and defense.

And though Lyles has played better as of late, averaging 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in the four games before the Miami contest, things aren’t looking good for him moving forward.

Part of that swell in his stats was due to injuries — notably Paul Millsap, who was inactive for three of those games.

Millsap returned Monday against the Heat, scoring nine points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 20 minutes.

Gary Harris will also return — most likely after the All-Star Break — cutting into Lyles minutes.

But Isaiah Thomas will be the real wild card.

The Nuggets haven’t been healthy all year, with Thomas missing the entire season, Will Barton getting hurt in the second game and Gary Harris, Paul Millsap and Jamal Murray all getting bitten by the injury bug.

That’s has to be part of what has kept Lyles in the lineup — at least in as big of a role as he’s played.

But when Thomas returns — which could be as soon as Wednesday — that’s bound to change.

There are only so many minutes to go around, and Monte Morris, Malik Beasley and Mason Plumlee have all shown they deserve minutes ahead of Lyles.

With Hernangomez only playing one-plus minute Monday, he too seems to be an odd man out. Torrey Craig is also a prime candidate to have his minutes slashed when IT returns.

Lyles is off the books after this season and the Nuggets will most likely let him walk.

Jarred Vanderbilt needs a chance. dark. Next

He was a great spark off the bench for Denver last season, but he may have played his last meaningful minutes for the Nuggets.

Home/Nuggets News