The Denver Nuggets agreed to re-sign Bruce Brown on the opening night of free agency, and it immediately puts Julian Strawther in a make-or-break spot. The 2023 first-round draft pick has struggled to make a consistent impact, and he played fewer than ten minutes per game in the playoffs. With Brown back to take minutes on the wing, Strawther may not even be in the rotation on opening night.
Bringing back Brown was a no-brainer. He had his best season in Denver and played a crucial role in them winning the championship. Expect him to pick up right where he left off with Nikola Jokic and earning significant run.
The Nuggets have more moves to make, and it will only push Strawther further down the depth chart. Denver drafted an older rookie in hopes he would be ready to join the rotation immediately. If his playing time dips in year three, the ice will only get thinner.
Julian Strawther faces prove-it season with the Nuggets
The 23-year-old averaged 9.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.6 steals in 21.3 minutes per game last season. He shot 43.2 percent from the field and 34.9 percent on his 3-point attempts. Strawther struggled to get playoff minutes even after his regular season improvements, which further shows head coach David Aldeman’s lack of trust in the young wing.
Bruce Brown is a significant upgrade and should be in line for close to 30 minutes per game. Cameron Johnson replaces Michael Porter Jr. and the other four starters are back. With the top six getting significant run, the playing time will be limited elsewhere. Peyton Watson has passed Strawther on the depth chart leaving him as the eighth man right now. With a couple more additions, the 23-year-old could be down to tenth and a DNP-CD some nights.
Julian Strawther is playing for his spot with the Nuggets in any minutes he earns this season. The 6’7 wing was a first-round pick for several reasons. He must improve his game and restore the organization’s faith in him. If not, the thin ice could turn into Denver moving on.
The Denver Nuggets opened free agency with a splash. They swiftly traded for Johnson and signed Bruce Brown to improve their roster, but cannot be done. Nikola Jokic wants more depth and talent flanking him. The Nuggets must keep adding if they want to be serious title contenders. That means pushing Julian Strawther further down the depth chart and potentially off their roster.