The Nuggets are getting a look at a forward in Brazile who brings more than just size. He offers the kind of pop and length that can change a possession at both ends, and there’s a reason he has drawn attention in camp.
The former Arkansas standout is described as a top-tier finisher around the rim who can also space the floor from deep. On defense, his 7’4″ wingspan gives Denver something it has been missing for a while: real shot-blocking and the ability to bother attempts near the basket.
Brazile’s value also comes from how naturally he fits into the flow of the game. As Dempsey notes, he does not need the offense built around him to make an impact.
In five preseason appearances, the 23-year-old posted 9.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 19.8 minutes per game. He shot 79.2% from the field and hit 66.7% of his threes, though that came in a small sample size.
DeMar DeRozan’s preseason start has also been a talking point, but Dempsey says there’s no reason to overreact. The six-time All-Star is only beginning his first season with the Nuggets, and both sides are still sorting out how best to use him.
The fit, at least early on, comes down to usage: Denver needs to get DeRozan closer to the basket instead of leaving him out on the perimeter, where his game is not centered around outside shooting. His teammates also need to keep moving when he’s working in isolation, especially with the 37-year-old forward operating 1-on-1.
Tyus Jones, meanwhile, is already seeing what this roster could look like when the second unit gets rolling. In an interview with Mark Medina of Fadeaway World, the veteran guard talked about being traded multiple times last season before landing in Denver, as well as settling into the team and his thoughts on Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic. He said he believes the bench group can cause real problems.
“ I think we can be dynamic. I think we can bring different looks.
Obviously, DeMar is a Hall-of-Fame player and scorer. So he’s going to be our focal point with our second unit,” Jones said.
“ We have talented guys that can play off of him in [Marvin] Bagley, Spencer Jones and Julian [Strawther]. We also have some rookies that are ready to contribute.
We can throw different looks at teams. But I think as a unit, we’ll be ready to contribute and ready to gel and match each and every day.
We’re looking to do our job and our role.”
Head coach David Adelman has also weighed in on the offense, recently discussing how Denver can get even better after finishing last season with the league’s top-ranked unit, according to a Twitter video link from Law Murray of The Athletic.
One injury note to keep in mind: fourth-year wing Strawther is out at least six weeks after spraining his left knee.
In Other News...
Nuggets Bench Suddenly Has A Real Opening For One Young Player
The Nuggets came out of the preseason with a sudden change to their second unit, and it opens the door for a young wing to carve out a real opportunity. Julian Strawther had been positioned as part of Denvers bench mix, giving the team another option on the perimeter, but his status now shifts the conversation toward who can absorb those minutes and keep the rotation stable while the rest of the roster settles in.
Denver has a few possibilities to sort through, including Alpha Diallo, Cam Whitmore and Bryce Hopkins, each offering a different kind of fit depending on what the Nuggets want from the spot. For a team that has long valued reliable depth behind its core, the next few weeks should tell a lot about which player can do enough to make the absence feel manageable, and which one might start turning a temporary opening into something more permanent. [Read more 🡒]
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
The Nuggets preseason finale against the Lakers had a little more edge than anyone probably expected, and Cam Johnson was right in the middle of it. Denver was already getting useful minutes from the usual headliners, with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray doing their part, when Johnsons night took an abrupt turn after a hard play against Austin Reaves.
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 🡒]