The Denver Nuggets are still working to complete their roster. They've got only 13 players on the standard roster, out of a possible 15, and they still have two two-way roster spots available, too. But for the moment, with Peyton Watson still in flux, the Nuggets are still making additions and subtractions that could leave a substantial difference in their offseason grade.
So for now, I can say that the Nuggets' offseason report card remains incomplete. But we can still grade out each individual move to gain an overall idea of just how bad, or good, this offseason has gone.
Keep in mind that the Nuggets are facing roster-building difficulties and are limited to signing only minimum-salary players in free agency, which severely limits their available talent pool. But given their constraints, they got creative to build the best bunch around Nikola Jokic that they could.
Marvin Bagley III: A-
Bagley is a much more athletic backup center than the outgoing Jonas Valanciunas, and a really good upside find for the Nuggets. The former number two overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft can back up both Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon. He's the marquee free-agent pickup for the Nuggets this year, and I'm really excited to see what his athleticism and spacing can do.
Alpha Diallo: B+
Diallo is the reigning EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year and a clear upgrade in that department over Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. on the wing. It remains to be seen what the 29-year-old rookie's game will look like in the NBA, but a defensive-minded presence is a big step in the right direction for a team that had clear intentions of upgrading the defense in the offseason.
Trevon Brazile: A
The Nuggets traded down in the draft from 26th to 35th and picked up Brazile along with two future first-round picks. The trade itself is an A+. But the jury is out on Brazile without having seen him play against NBA talent. However, his summer league play left a lot to be excited about. He's athletic. He can shoot the three and defend the rim well with his 6-foot-10 frame and crazy vertical jump. There's a lot to like, especially at the league-minimum rookie-scale price.
Tyus Jones: D+
Here's one that stings. Tyus isn't more than a ball-control expert, and it leaves a big hole behind Jamal Murray at point guard. Combine this with the departure of Jalen Pickett, and the Nuggets are going to be relying heavily on Murray this year.
Spencer Jones: A+
The Nuggets brought back Spencer after the Oklahoma City Thunder signed the restricted free agent to an offer sheet. It was classified as a "no-brainer" value match by one of the Nuggets front office execs. And really, to keep a rotation player on a $6 million contract, it truly is a great value play for the Nuggets.
Bryce Hopkins: Incomplete
The Nuggets' other second-round draft pick, Hopkins, looked great in the Summer League as well. But the Nuggets haven't signed him to a two-way contract yet. Hopefully, they do. He's a big, physical wing who can shoot and drive to the rim, and he'd be excellent in the two-way spot.
Lonnie Walker IV: Incomplete
The Nuggets are bringing Walker in to compete for a roster spot in training camp, and that's just fine. No harm, no foul. But we can't grade that since he isn't officially on the roster. He's most likely insurance for any trade the Nuggets may make surrounding the Peyton Watson restricted free agency saga.
Preliminary overall grade: C
The Nuggets get an A+ for creativity, reaching out across the pond to find Diallo, and signing a talented second-rounder for a couple million less than their 26th pick would have cost.
But overall? C is the best I can give. Diallo has to be a large defensive upgrade to overcome the offensive downgrade from him to Hardaway. But in my opinion, Bagley is a big upgrade over Valanciunas, and he offers more positional flexibility.
But Tyus Jones as the backup point guard? Yikes. And no depth behind him is what keeps the score so low.
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