The Nuggets have now played three games in the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League and lost all three. They have one more game and that will be our last taste of Nuggets basketball until training camp and preseason open up.
The results aren’t everything as this time of year it’s more about player development and things of that nature. The Nuggets’ front office and ownership have made a big bet on their youth movement, letting veteran players walk two offseasons in a row, hoping to replace them with young, unproven players.
Summer League is a big opportunity for players to prove themselves and show that they belong at the NBA level. The Nuggets definitely came into this summer with high hopes for many guys on the roster.
There have been some bright spots and some duds, some good moments and bad, and one catastrophic situation. So with just one final game for people to show their final auditions, let’s break down everything that has mattered so far.
The Good: Strawther shines and Alexander breaks out
Arguably the player with the most at stake this summer is Julian Strawther and he has passed the test with flying colors. The Nuggets are hoping the second-year player out of Gonzaga will be able to step into their rotation this season and provide shooting and scoring consistently. If these summer league games are any indication, Strawther can do that in spades.
He has looked very comfortable with or without the ball and has been able to create shots off the catch and off the dribble. He’s been the clear focal point of the offense and when the team needed a shot he’s been able to find it. In the second game, he scored 32 points with 5 assists and made 6 threes.
The performance was all the Nuggets needed to see as they shut him down for the summer after just two games, a sign that he’s proven himself and earned a spot in the rotation; a huge win for the Nuggets.
The big positive surprise has been Trey Alexander. Alexander signed a two-way deal this summer after going undrafted out of Creighton. He has stepped in and looked confident and in control from the jump, handling the ball and scoring with relative ease.
He’s earned more and more opportunity with every passing game and without Strawther in the lineup, Alexander looked like the best player on the floor. His perimeter game would be a huge boon for the Nuggets offense off the bench and he looks like he may have the handling and shooting chops to step in and contribute right away.
He competed well enough on defense that he looks like he can hold his own. He has definitely shot up on the depth chart already, and at the very least he has earned a chance to compete for a spot in the rotation in training camp. This looks like a massive find for the Nuggets that fans should be very excited about.