When the Denver Nuggets traded away Peyton Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer, many were concerned about how the Nuggets would replace him. They may have actually done it via the draft. Rookie second-round pick Trevon Brazile was one of the few highlights of the Nuggets' 122-110 loss against the Los Angeles Clippers in the team's fourth preseason game. It was a great performance both offensively and defensively, and he should be under consideration for a rotation spot from head coach David Adelman.
Brazile was the first substitution off the bench in place of Aaron Gordon, and he immediately made an impact, connecting with Nikola Jokic on a lob, and then knocking down a wide-open catch-and-shoot three on the next trip down the floor. Brazile finished the game with a team-high 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting, and he drained 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Brazile also had a great volleyball spike block from behind on Darius Garland after Garland had snuck past him in the lane, showing the athletic, rim-protecting defense the Nuggets need.
Brazile's athleticism and shooting touch should get him more time
The Nuggets selected Brazile with the 35th pick in this year's draft, and it was clear they were targeting his athleticism. Adding athleticism was one of the Nuggets' goals this offseason, but Brazile has shown that he's got much more in his skill set than just being athletic.
During the Las Vegas Summer League, Brazile had a standout game with 32 points on 6-for-12 shooting from three, and he's showing that same touch now against even stiffer competition in the Nuggets' preseason games. But what's even better about his shooting is that there's zero hesitation, and he's full of confidence. It's the total opposite of Christian Braun, who's been hesitant and couldn't hit the ocean if it were in front of him right now.
Brazile also had a few dunks and layups while making use of his cutting and slashing, and he looks so much more polished than what you would expect from a rookie on offense. Sure, he had some issues on defense and at times looked a little out of place, and he had an atrocious minus 21 plus/minus, but the Nuggets bench unit as a whole looked bad against the Clippers, and the team can help Brazile learn where to be with coaching.
Brazile is doing everything right to put his name in the hat for a rotation spot, and for the first time in a long time, the Nuggets look like they have a rookie that they can play during his rookie year. And even if they don't, it's good to know the Nuggets have a bench player who can mirror, or perhaps surpass in due time, what they lost when they traded Watson away.
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