The Denver Nuggets came into the offseason with a couple of needs to fill. One of the biggest needs was definitely athleticism. They've been addressing it as best they can with the changes made this summer, and their latest signing, Lonnie Walker IV, cements the upgrade. At least, for now.
Walker joins the Nuggets after spending time in the EuroLeague, and he's now the second player the Nuggets poached from across the pond this summer, joining Alpha Diallo. Both are which are athletic additions. Walker is explosive and a good shot-creator, and he'll be an upgrade over Bruce Brown on offense for the Nuggets in the backcourt.
Walker is a quicker, more athletic Tim Hardaway Jr., who can attack the rim and will be a three-point threat, and he should have plenty of opportunities to improve upon his 35.6% career three-point shooting with all of the open looks the Nikola Jokic-led offense should help to provide him.
The Nuggets upgraded athleticism this summer
Walker and Diallo aren't the only two athletic upgrades for the Nuggets this offseason. The addition of Marvin Bagley III in place of Jonas Valanciunas in the frontcourt was the first upgrade. Bagley, the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, can attack the rim from the perimeter and spread the floor with a developing three-point shot. Valanciunas couldn't do either and was just a traditional center.
The Nuggets also drafted one of the most athletic players in the whole draft, Trevon Brazile. Brazile has a 41.5" vertical jump, and at 6-foot-10 with long arms, he's capable of protecting the rim as the primary defender and from the help side. Offensively, Brazile can spread the floor with his three-point shot, which was displayed in the Nuggets Summer League games. And he attacks the rim well, too.
The only non-athletic addition was Tyus Jones at backup point guard, but the Nuggets still needed a ball-control specialist, and that's what they got in Jones.
The Nuggets are more athletic, as long as they keep Peyton Watson
All of the athleticism that the Nuggets added will be for naught if they end up losing Peyton Watson to a sign-and-trade. Watson is probably the most athletic Nugget, or at worst equal to Aaron Gordon. So that's why these additions make the Nuggets more athletic. For now.
It would feel like a step in the wrong direction if the Nuggets chose to trade Watson. But the enormous tax bill from violating the NBA's second apron penalty threshold seems to be pushing that card closer and closer to being played.
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