The Denver Nuggets may have built themselves into a strange kind of luxury problem this preseason: there are more rotation-worthy players than head coach David Adelman wants to use.
Adelman has been clear that he does not want a rotation bigger than ten players, but this roster is already pushing past that line. At least 13 players have done enough to make a legitimate case, which means some deserving names are going to be left waiting when the regular season opens.
The two players standing out most in that crowd are Cam Whitmore and Trevon Brazile.
Whitmore, signed late in the offseason to a two-way deal, has looked sharp from the jump. In three preseason games where he logged at least 14 minutes, the 22-year-old wing has averaged 12.3 points and 2.0 rebounds while shooting 48.1% from the field and 33.3% from three. He’s given Denver the kind of pop off the bench that can change the feel of an offense in a hurry.
Brazile has made his own push as well. The 23-year-old just turned in a breakout performance, scoring 22 points on 8-10 shooting and knocking down 3-4 from deep. For a second-round rookie with his length and athleticism, that kind of night only reinforces the sense that he can matter at the NBA level.
And yet, even with both players flashing real value, the path into the main rotation still looks crowded.
Denver’s likely bench group is expected to center on Tyus Jones, Julian Strawther, Alpha Diallo, DeMar DeRozan, Spencer Jones, and Marvin Bagley III. That leaves Whitmore and Brazile on the outside looking in for now, even if both look like obvious next men up if injuries create openings.
That possibility is very real. Spencer Jones has not played in the preseason while recovering from a hamstring injury, and if he does not make significant progress over the next week, opening night could come too soon. If that happens, Brazile could be asked to handle backup power forward minutes.
Julian Strawther’s status is even more concerning after he went down with a knee injury in Wednesday’s preseason loss to the L.A. Clippers.
There has been no update yet, but it would be surprising if he were available for the season opener. If Denver needs another scoring spark without him, Whitmore is the obvious candidate.
The situation is tough for both young players, but it also says plenty about how much talent is packed into the roster. Adelman said last week he was worried the Nuggets might only have nine reliable players heading into the 2026-27 season, yet training camp has already given Denver a few more names to think about.
Whitmore and Brazile have been two of the biggest surprises so far, and they’re not alone. Bryce Hopkins and Ryan Nembhard have also had their moments.
For now, though, the depth chart still looks unforgiving. Whitmore and Brazile have both shown enough to belong in the conversation. Whether that translates into steady rotation minutes is another matter.
In Other News...
Nuggets Suddenly Have A Julian Strawther Problem They Didn't Want
The Nuggets preseason loss to the Clippers was already the kind of October result teams mostly file away and move past, but the sight of Julian Strawther leaving after a third-quarter knee injury changed the tone quickly. Strawther has been part of Denvers effort to build out its depth, and any issue involving a rotation player this early in camp tends to land harder because it interrupts the work of sorting out roles and finding rhythm.
Trevon Brazile gave Denver something more encouraging off the bench in the same game, which is a small preseason bright spot the Nuggets can point to while they wait for clarity on Strawther. For now, though, the injury is the part hanging over everything, and the lack of an official report only adds to the uncertainty as Denver moves deeper into preseason without a clear read on how serious it might be. [Read more 🡒]
Julian Strawther Injury Scare Clouds A Crucial Nuggets Opportunity
Julian Strawthers night against the Clippers had an encouraging start before it turned tense, with the second-year wing leaving Denvers preseason game after a lower-body injury and not returning. Strawther had given the Nuggets useful minutes before the exit, finishing with 11 points, two rebounds and two turnovers in 19 minutes as Denver fell 122-110.
For a team trying to sort out its rotation and lean on young depth, any setback in the preseason carries extra weight. Strawther has been in the mix for a more meaningful role, and the Nuggets will now be waiting to see how serious the injury is before they can know whether this was just a scare or something that could slow his push for a bigger opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Rookie Is Suddenly Forcing A Real Bench Debate
The Nuggets may have found a little more summer intrigue than they expected in Trevon Brazile, the rookie second-round pick who looked anything but tentative in a preseason game against the Clippers. He was the first man off the bench, played with obvious confidence, and brought the kind of athletic pop Denver can always use, finishing with 22 points while flashing impact on both ends of the floor.
There were still the usual rookie rough edges, especially a few defensive lapses, but Braziles overall showing gave the Nuggets something to think about as the rotation starts to take shape. For head coach David Adelman, the question is no longer just whether Brazile can hold his own in preseason minutes, but whether a real bench role is beginning to open up in front of him. [Read more 🡒]