The Denver Nuggets were expecting Julian Strawther to take a leap this year. The fourth-year guard was off to a fantastic start in the preseason, raising expectations that he would fill the void off the bench left by the departed Tim Hardaway Jr. Those plans will have to wait after Strawther suffered a knee injury. But one player's loss is another player's chance to step up, and Nuggets rookie Trevon Brazile should be the beneficiary of the hole in the rotation that Strawther's absence will leave.
It was announced before the Nuggets preseason finale, a 121-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, that Strawther would miss at least six weeks with a left knee sprain. It's a terrible blow for Strawther, who was off to a hot start in his chance to shine and lead the bench unit in volume three-point shooting. He averaged 13.3 points and was shooting 43.5% from downtown on a team-high 5.8 three-point attempts per game during the preseason.
But Strawther's injury should open the door for more playing time for Brazile, who's also been one of the bright spots of the Nuggets' preseason.
Brazile should get a chance to shine with Strawther out
The two may not share the same position on the floor, but Brazile's three-point shot is the best of the players on the bench who could step in and fill that void on the second unit. The rookie second-round pick is off to an amazing start, shooting a blistering 66.7% from downtown to lead the team through the preseason.
Of course, that number isn't likely to stick, but Brazile's smooth shot has looked good from the moment he first donned a Nuggets jersey in the Las Vegas Summer League, where he shot 9-for-19 from three over three games for 47.4%, including one game where he went 6-for-12. It's not every day you find a 6-foot-10 forward who can hit the three at such a high rate, and the Nuggets need to give Brazile the chance to fill Strawther's void.
Brazile saw 27 minutes against the Lakers in his first chance with extended action as the replacement in the starting lineup for Aaron Gordon, and he delivered. Brazile was 2-for-3 from beyond the arc and finished the game with 12 points and 8 rebounds, while also playing fantastic defense with 2 blocks and 2 steals. He's a great rim protector, and the Nuggets need to find a way to get him in the rotation.
David Adelman will have to get creative
Head coach David Adelman could have his hands full figuring out the right lineup combination to squeeze Brazile in, but if they go bigger with Brazile at the four and Marvin Bagley III at the five, with Alpha Diallo and Spencer Jones splitting time at the three with DeMar DeRozan and Tyus Jones in the backcourt, it could work out really well.
Brazile could have a great opportunity in front of him, and if he seizes the chance, the Nuggets could be even deeper and better when the games really count in the playoffs.
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