The Nuggets may have found the player who can help smooth over the loss of Michael Porter Jr. in a way they never really managed after last year’s salary-dump trade to the Brooklyn Nets.
That player is rookie second-round standout Trevon Brazile, who has wasted little time flashing the same kind of value Porter brought to Denver’s frontcourt. Through his first four games, Brazile is averaging 9.5 points and 7.5 rebounds, a strong opening for a rookie still getting his footing in the league.
His first start came in the Nuggets’ 104-91 win over the Pelicans, and he looked comfortable right away in the small forward role Porter used to handle next to Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon. Brazile answered with 11 points and 8 rebounds, and the fit looked natural.
What stands out first is how much Brazile already does the job Porter once did for this team - and in a couple of areas, he may already be ahead.
Porter was a strong rebounder for a small forward, pulling down 7.0 boards per game in his final two seasons with the Nuggets. Brazile, though, brings a different kind of chaos to the glass.
Both players are 6-foot-10, but Brazile’s 7-foot-4 wingspan and 41.5" vertical give him a huge reach advantage when the ball is in the air. He plays with a relentless motor, popping up from nowhere to snatch rebounds and extend possessions.
He has also given Denver the kind of floor spacing the offense needed after Cameron Johnson’s injury. Porter shot 39.6% from three over his final two seasons with the Nuggets, and Brazile isn’t there yet, but he’s off to a promising start at 33.3% from deep through four games.
Just as important, he’s showing no hesitation when the shot is there. That matters when Jokic is trying to operate in the paint and the defense has to respect the perimeter.
Defensively, Brazile may already be making the biggest impression. He has looked most comfortable around the perimeter and has also been active helping on double teams with Jokic or Gordon.
His quickness lets him recover back outside after collapsing inside, and that athletic burst showed up in a big way late in the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 23-point comeback win over the Pelicans two games ago, when he blocked two three-point attempts. Those plays showcased exactly how far he can get off the floor.
For all the promise, Brazile is still a raw rookie learning on the fly. Even so, his basketball IQ appears to be climbing quickly, game by game. And if this start is any indication, Denver may have stumbled onto the replacement for Porter sooner than anyone expected.
In Other News...
Nuggets Rotation Suddenly Gives David Adelman A Tough New Decision
With injuries piling up around the roster, David Adelman has been forced to keep reshaping the Nuggets rotation on the fly, and the latest version has at least given Denver some useful answers. The absences of Spencer Jones, Julian Strawther, Alpha Diallo and Cameron Johnson have opened the door for new combinations, and the coach has leaned into a lineup that asks for more energy, more length and more stability from players who have not always had defined roles.
One of the clearest beneficiaries has been rookie Trevon Brazile, whose defense and rebounding have helped steady recent minutes and give the Nuggets a different look early in games. The bench has become just as intriguing, too, with Marvin Bagley III and DeMar DeRozan both making a strong push for more responsibility after the win over New Orleans, leaving Adelman with a deeper rotation puzzle even as the injury situation keeps forcing his hand. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Gordon Has Become A Real Nuggets Concern
Aaron Gordons importance to Denver has only grown as the Nuggets have tried to steady themselves through a rough stretch, and that is exactly why the current discussion around him has gotten louder. Bill Simmons raised the topic on his podcast, framing the Nuggets as a team that may be close to a panic point if Gordon is no longer able to provide the level of two-way impact they have come to expect from him alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
The concern is not just about one quiet night or a temporary dip. Gordon has been dealing with recurring soft tissue leg issues, and for a player whose value comes from constant movement, physical defense and timely offense, that is a real worry for Denver. If he cannot stay on the floor and sustain the same kind of production, the Nuggets suddenly have a much thinner margin for error than they would like at this stage. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets May Have Found The Defensive Answer Fans Have Been Waiting For
The Nuggets have already seen two very different versions of their defense against the Pelicans this season, and the latest meeting offered a much better sign for a team still trying to find reliable consistency on that end. Head coach David Adelman liked the way Denver moved from spot to spot, closed possessions with more urgency and got meaningful minutes from rookies Trevon Brazile and Bryce Hopkins in a win that looked far more connected than their first look at New Orleans.
For Denver, the bigger question is whether this was a one-night spike or the start of something sturdier. Adelman has been looking for sharper rotation work and more force in the way his group applies pressure, and the Nuggets will need those habits to stick if they want to turn occasional defensive flashes into something they can trust as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]