The Denver Nuggets took a hit on Friday when the team announced that Julian Strawther has a knee sprain and will be out for at least the next six weeks. Strawther suffered the injury in Wednesday’s preseason game against the L.A. Clippers, and his absence will stretch into the first 17 games of the season.
That leaves Denver with a bench spot to sort out, and there are a few players who could come out ahead because of it. The Nuggets may be missing Strawther, but they do appear to have a handful of options ready to absorb those minutes.
Alpha Diallo is the clearest beneficiary. Before Strawther went down, Diallo’s path to steady rotation minutes looked murky. Now, there’s room for him to step in.
The reigning EuroLeague Best Defender has already made his defensive presence felt with Denver. He doesn’t offer the same offensive package Strawther does, but he brings a different kind of value that the Nuggets can use right away.
During preseason, Diallo posted 4.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 37.5% from three. He’ll need time to get comfortable in Denver’s offensive system, but his defense should translate immediately for a team that finished 21st in defensive rating last season.
If the Nuggets want a little more scoring punch, Cam Whitmore is the other name to watch. The 22-year-old wing is the youngest player on the roster even though he’s entering his fourth NBA season, and he’s shown he can bring instant offense when given a chance.
Whitmore averaged 8.6 points per game in preseason and shot 45.2% from the field. He also had two games with at least 14 points, a reminder that he can give Denver a real lift off the bench.
If Diallo takes Strawther’s place, the Nuggets’ offense would lean heavily on DeMar DeRozan. Adding Whitmore into the mix eases some of that burden on the 37-year-old veteran and gives Denver another path to bench scoring. The choice between Diallo’s defense and Whitmore’s offense won’t be simple, but both have a case.
Bryce Hopkins is the third name in the picture. He isn’t the defender Diallo is or the scorer Whitmore can be, but he offers a little of both. David Adelman clearly likes what he has seen from the second-round rookie, going so far as to play him the entire fourth quarter in Friday night’s preseason finale.
Hopkins’ preseason line - 4.0 points and 1.8 rebounds per game - doesn’t leap off the page. Still, he has flashed enough to suggest there could be something there. He’s the least likely of the three to fully replace Strawther, but the rookie could still pick up more minutes.
With Strawther out, Hopkins moves into a third-string role, and Denver may have a chance to see what he can do when the opportunity comes his way.
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Jokics Shot Is Giving The Nuggets A Different Look On Offense
Nikola Jokics jumper has looked like one of the quiet but important developments of the Nuggets preseason, and it showed up again against the Lakers when he knocked down shots from deep and kept the floor stretched in a way Denver can use. The broader point matters as much as the makes themselves: when Jokic is comfortable stepping out, defenses have a harder time crowding the lane, and the Nuggets offense gets a different shape.
That kind of spacing is especially valuable after the way his three-point rhythm dipped late last season and into the playoffs, when a wrist issue had been in the mix. Denver does not need Jokic to become a volume shooter from outside, but even a modest bump in confidence can change how opponents guard pick-and-rolls, post touches and cutters around him. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Johnson Put Nuggets Fans In A Tough Spot Against The Lakers
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Johnson had given Denver a scoring boost before the incident, but the game shifted quickly once the officials took a closer look and sent him out. The Nuggets still finished the preseason at 3-2 after beating Los Angeles, while Reaves led the Lakers in scoring, leaving Denver with the win and one lingering talking point as the regular season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Roster Is Set But Fringe Decisions Still Stand Out
The Nuggets finished their pre-opening-night roster housekeeping by waiving three players on Exhibit 10 deals, part of the league-wide churn that also saw Cleveland and Detroit make similar moves, according to the NBA.com transaction log. It is the kind of late-summer paperwork that rarely draws much attention, but it matters for teams trying to keep their books clean while sorting out who might stick around in the organization through the G League pipeline.
For Denver, the moves leave the roster in compliance with regular-season limits and preserve flexibility as the final week before the season unfolds. The club is working over the second apron, so there is no urgent need to rush into filling the open standard roster spot, and the expectation is that most of these players will land with their G League affiliates once waivers clear. [Read more 🡒]