Jamal Murray’s playoff problems against Minnesota put a spotlight on a Nuggets issue that never really went away: who handles the ball when Murray isn’t doing it?
In Denver’s first-round exit, Murray was harassed constantly by Jaden McDaniels, and the result exposed just how thin the Nuggets were behind him in terms of ball control. That shortage was one of the clearest needs coming out of the team’s year-end press conference, but the front office’s only move so far was bringing back Tyus Jones at the start of free agency. After that, the search seemed to stall - which is why the Nuggets’ reported interest in Cam Whitmore feels incomplete.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported Denver’s interest in Whitmore in the latest edition of The Stein Line (subscription required).
Whitmore, the No. 20 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, brings athleticism and scoring punch on the wing. That alone gives him appeal for a Nuggets roster that could still use more burst and more upside.
He also fits as a candidate for the team’s final two-way spot if the goal is development. But he does not address the main problem.
Whitmore is a lot closer to training camp invitee Lonnie Walker IV in role and skill set than he is to a real backup ball-handler.
That leaves the bigger question hanging over Denver: if Whitmore is not the answer at point guard duties, who is?
Tyus Jones is part of the solution, at least on paper. He’s the kind of steady, low-mistake guard the Nuggets needed, and Denver went to him in Games 5 and 6 against the Timberwolves once it became obvious the backup point guard spot had to change.
The problem is that Jones is limited offensively. He isn’t a creator who can carry a second unit, and he shouldn’t be asked to play that role full time.
That is why DeMar DeRozan looms as a more natural fit for the job. The 17-year veteran and six-time All-Star has the ball-control chops to handle more responsibility, and he has shown he can distribute, including during his three seasons with the San Antonio Spurs.
He’s also a proven scorer - 16th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list - which gives him a different kind of value than Jones. The tradeoff is obvious: DeRozan won’t bring much defense or three-point shooting.
But Jones doesn’t offer much there either.
He would, however, give the Nuggets something they clearly need: another durable body who can soak up minutes and help keep Murray fresher for the playoffs.
That’s why Whitmore feels more like a developmental swing than a real answer to Denver’s structural issue. He has first-round upside and the kind of downhill athletic scoring the Nuggets could use, but he doesn’t bring playmaking, and he isn’t a strong defender.
Useful? Sure.
A fix for the ball-control problem? Not even close.
If Denver is serious about solving that issue, DeRozan looks like the cleaner path. If not, the second unit could be left in a rough spot, especially with Jones and DeRozan sharing the backcourt and the spacing getting cramped fast.
In Other News...
Cavaliers Fans Should Watch Where This Former First Rounder Lands Next
The Nuggets head into the new season trying to keep a contender intact while managing a financial squeeze that has already made every roster decision feel heavier than usual. They have brought back Spencer Jones and held onto the foundation of Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, but the margin for adding more talent keeps narrowing as the front office balances present needs against a punishing tax bill.
One name worth tracking in that process is Cam Whitmore, a young free agent looking for his next opportunity after being waived by Cleveland. Denver has shown interest, which fits the kind of bet a team in its position has to consider: upside on the wing, a chance to find value where the market is thinner, and another moving part in a summer that still has a few complications to sort through. [Read more 🡒]
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Brown was not brought back after Denver chose to go in a different direction and add new players, leaving one familiar bench role open to debate among fans. New York now gets the benefit of seeing whether Brown can carve out playing time again, while Nuggets supporters are left weighing what his departure meant and whether the replacement was enough to cover the loss. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Took A Risk Moving On From Bruce Brown
Denvers decision to move on from Bruce Brown at the backup wing spot is the kind of roster choice that can look minor in July and loom much larger once the games get tight again. After the playoff series against Minnesota, the Nuggets opted for a different look and turned to rookie Alpha Diallo, betting that his defensive versatility can help fill a role that Brown had previously handled.
Brown, meanwhile, is trying to carve out his next opportunity with the Knicks, where he is in camp competing for a roster spot. For Denver, the appeal of Diallo is obvious beyond the defense: he comes in with a lower cap hit, which makes the move easier to justify on the numbers even as it leaves the Nuggets taking a real risk on a less proven option. [Read more 🡒]