The Denver Nuggets have signed former South Carolina guard PJ Dozier to a one-year deal
The Dever Nuggets have signed former South Carolina guard PJ Dozier to a one-year deal. Dozier spent his last season on a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics, spending most of his time playing for the Maine Red Claws.
Guard PJ Dozier has agreed to a one-year deal with the Denver Nuggets, agent @KB_Sports tells ESPN. Dozier was on a two-way with Celtics and earned a G-League All-Star spot last season.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 12, 2019
Over 46 games with the Red Claws, Dozier averaged 21.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists per game. For his efforts, Dozier received Midseason All-NBA G League recognition. He also was All G-League third team in 2019. Dozier possesses a 7-foot wingspan and has great size (6-foot-6) for a player who can capably initiate the offense.
https://twitter.com/nbagleague/status/1067639219458383872
Dozier really elevated himself as a player last year through becoming a much better passer. He averaged 21 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.3 steals on 46% from the field for the Maine Red Claws. https://t.co/QkltuX29id
— Ridiculous Upside (@RidicUpside) August 12, 2019
Dozier led the Red Claws in total assists by a wide margin–Dozier had 310 assists, 170 more than the next leading player–and would be an interesting option in the Denver second unit for a change of pace. Monte Morris is one of the best point guards in the league but at 6-foot-3, he does not provide the same upside in terms of defense and rebounding.
Dozier is not afraid to make a quick pass ahead if he sees open shooters, something we saw him do at a decently high level over the 2019 Las Vegas Summer League. Over five games he posted an offensive rating of 90.1 and a 102.9 defensive rating while maintaining a very high 25.6 usage rate. Dozier was not able to create offense efficiently but he helped his team nonetheless by moving the ball (four assists per game) and playing solid defense (1.4 steals per game).
Only time will tell if Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone plans to use Dozier much or at all during the 2019-20 NBA regular season, but either way, the long-limbed guard is will add a nice dimension to what is already a deep and versatile Nuggets backcourt.