Nuggets training camp: Five takeaways from Day 3-5

The Denver Nuggets continued their conduct training camp for the 2020-21 season over the weekend.

2020-21 Training Camp is well underway for the Denver Nuggets.

The Nuggets have set their training camp roster, conducting their first group workouts and team scrimmage on Dec. 6.

1. Michael Porter Jr. feels ready to be third star

When asked if he’s ready to be the team’s “second or third star,” Porter answered with classic MPJ bravado, acknowledging that he needs to take the next step and stating that he feels ready for the responsibility.

Porter believes that he was playing at his best before Jamal Murray returned from injury right before the 2020 NBA Playoffs because he was getting more touches. A point that only needs to be mentioned because — once the Blue Arrow regained his footing — it was clear that the trio of he, Murray and Nikola Jokic need to work on their on-court chemistry.

“We knew that this time was coming… we think if we can develop that chemistry that it’ll be a special thing.”

Expect MPJ to come back a much improved player in 2020-21, as Porter tells reporters that he believes he’s improved in every facet of the game. Particularly the area of his game that was exposed during the playoffs; his defense.

Working out incessantly in his hometown of Columbia, Porter also spent a brief period of time training with stars Jayson Tatum and Bradley Beal — two other Missouri natives — in Los Angeles.

Hopefully, the Nuggets find more ways to use MPJ at power forward, where he feels he can use his size more.

“I’m just ready for whatever coach tells me to do,” says a matured Porter.

Per the Denver Post’s Mike Singer:

“I want to be one of the best players (on the floor) and I want to guard the best players. And I want the best players on the other team to guard me.”

2. Will Barton wants to remain in starting lineup

It shouldn’t be as newsworthy as it is.

Denver has players like JaMychal Green and Paul Millsap publicly stating that they don’t care if they come off the bench, However, there are plenty of players — incumbent starters and hopefuls — that would prefer to be in the starting lineup.

29-year-old swingman Will Barton, who has started in all but 10 games he’s played in over the last two seasons, is one of them.

Per the Denver Post’s Mike Singer:

“I’m a starter in this league,” Barton insisted in a video conference call with reporters Friday.  “I think I’ve proved that year in and year out being one of the most consistent players in the whole NBA.

“… I think it is clear cut who I am in this league.”

Barton, who averaged 15.1 and 3.7 assists per game last season while shooting a career-high 37.5 percent from 3-point range, is one of Denver’s most dynamic offensive playmakers. Between his shot-creating ability, experience, familiarity with the system and his respectable defense, there’s a great chance that Barton returns to the starting lineup.

However, concerns about offensive chemistry and Barton’s long-term health could cost him his starting role in 2020-21.

3. Facundo Campazzo is Malone’s favorite addition

Maybe it’s because he used to be a point guard himself.

Although Nuggets head coach Michael Malone hasn’t come out and said it explicitly, it’s clear from the way he raves about newcomer Facundo Campazzo that the Argentinian floor general is Malone’s favorite roster addition this offseason.

Calling Campazzo “a seamless fit” with Denver’s culture of international and unselfish under-the-radar players, Malone believes that Facu is a top-five pick-and-roll player and disruptive defender (despite being 5’11”).

In fact, between Campazzo and Jokic, Malone thinks that the Nuggets actually have two of the best passers in the world.

Although Facu doesn’t know his role and hasn’t talked to Malone about it, there’s reason to believe he’s already penciled in as the second-unit point guard.

4. Malone willing to get creative with defense

It seems as if there’s been a lot of discussion this post about offense.

And, with the Nuggets’ feeling the loss of last season’s most versatile defender, perhaps Denver feels more inclined to focus on offense. They don’t have the personnel to be an elite defensive team just yet.

However, because Denver’s personnel leaves something to be desired defensively, that means that the Nuggets’ coaching staff will have to be creative with their rotations and defensive schemes if they want to perform admirably on that end.

Malone, assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr. and the rest of the coaching staff will be doing just that.

To the excitement of many, Malone mentioned multiple defensive wrinkles he’s been considering, including pressing more on defense, playing more zone defense and using 7’2″ forward-center Bol Bol as a back-line defender.

Pressing more on defense would give the Nuggets a more aggressive defensive identity after years of being soft at the point-of-attack.

Playing more zone defense would minimize the importance of individual defense against particular teams or players and, after they secure the rebound, Denver will be in a better position to attack before the defense is set.

Refusing to use Bol’s 7’7″ wingspan and 9’7″ standing reach, particularly when he’s a fluid athlete that’s shown great instincts and awareness, should be punishable by law. The Nuggets ranked in the bottom-half of the league in shots blocked per game (4.6) in 2019-20 and having Bol on the court would change that more likely than not.

5. Greg Whittington reveals why he chose Nuggets

Campazzo may be Malone’s favorite addition this offseason but, outside of Roderick (R.J.) Hampton, 27-year-old forward Greg Whittington is mine.

Many media members are already enamored with his positivity and excitement and, in terms of the profession, Whittington appears to have the intangibles of a media darling. However, what makes Whittington special — in my estimation — is that he’s the one player that can replace everything that the Nuggets lost when Jerami Grant decided to re-sign.

To make it better, either he just doesn’t know it or he’s playing coy.

Fortunately, due to the abbreviated offseason and Millsap’s age, Whittington should get a chance to make his NBA debut this season.

Speaking to reporters, Whittington says that the reason he decided to sign with the Nuggets is because of their track record developing two-way players.

Monte Morris and Torrey Craig — two mainstays in the rotation last season — began their NBA careers as two-way players for the Nuggets. Bol recently had his two-way contract converted into a standard deal and has the chance to be in the rotation in 2020-21 (in what will technically still be his rookie season).

Whittington has the talent and charisma to be next up. He likely will have the opportunity.

But will he have the necessary hard-hat, lunch-pail, blue collar mindset?

Telling reporters that maybe 5-7 years down the line, he’s still here, he just may.