When the Denver Nuggets brought in Alpha Diallo from Europe this offseason, it was unclear whether he could crack their rotation. Well, two preseason games in, it seems like a mistake if the Nuggets don't give him minutes once the regular season starts.
Diallo's reputation as a defender preceded him. He was named the EuroLeague Best Defender last season. And his prowess as a point-of-attack and pick-and-roll defender has had plenty of Nuggets fans excited about his addition.
Of course, some have worried about whether Diallo's skills would translate to the NBA. While it may only be the preseason, it has become evident that he has the potential to be an elite stopper for Denver.
Alpha Diallo's defense should make him a rotation player
The former AS Monaco star got his first taste of NBA action against the Utah Jazz on Sunday. The box score may show he didn't do much in his preseason debut, but he demonstrated his defensive tenacity by successfully picking up ball-handlers in the backcourt.
Diallo had a much better outing in the Nuggets' Tuesday win over the Jazz, recording eight points on 3-for-3 shooting (2-for-2 from three) and two steals. The numbers, though, won't illustrate how he set the tone for Denver with his defense. His ability to harass opponents and fight through screens should make it hard for David Adelman to keep him out of the rotation.
The thing is, the team already has a trio of wing reserves who also deserve playing time, namely DeMar DeRozan, Spencer Jones, and Julian Strawther. However, none of them project to be as menacing on defense as Diallo. For that reason, the Nuggets' depth chart should feature the 29-year-old rookie on the second unit.
We need to see more of Alpha Diallo on offense
Perhaps the biggest hurdle to Diallo appearing on Adelman's substitution pattern is his still-unknown offensive ceiling.
On the other hand, we should keep in mind that he spent several years honing his craft in EuroLeague, where crisp ball movement is a staple and being disciplined off the ball is almost mandatory. Also, his preseason so far and his EuroLeague numbers prove he can become a floor spacer. So, Diallo should fit well with any of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and DeRozan.
It remains to be seen how many minutes Diallo will receive on opening night and for the rest of the regular season. But it's tough to ignore what he brings to the table as a multi-positional minimum-contract player who embraces dirty work and does not demand a ton of offensive touches to be effective.
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