Building a bench

[skywalker33]

I was looking at the potential of our bench and how it can look in the next few years. We have several good young player and here's what I think we have as our 2nd unit

PG Bones Hyland - A 6'3" dynamic scoring playmaking guard capable of starting, has 20ppg+ potential and is developing his playmaking skills nicely.

SG Peyton Watson - A lanky 6'7" defensive stalwart who is in our G-league affiliate starting lineup. Has good offensive potential as well as he's averaging around 26ppg in the G, but the NBA is a different caliber.

SF Christian Braun - a 6'7" rookie who is already getting PT off the bench, he's already shown his defensive chomps and can shoot from downtown yet needs more consistency. A strong 3-D candidate.

PF Zeke Nnaji - Our 6'9" PF/C candidate is still only 21yo and has yet to gain a rotation role but he is buried due to veteran depth. He has shown some good shooting skills, can bang in the middle and run the break as well. A weapon in waiting ?

C Ismael Kamagate - A 6'11" shot blocker playing over in Euro, he's reported to be a strong rim-protector/rim-runner with athletic ability. Known more for his defense than offense, he'll be part of a stellar defensive 2nd unit

Now some of this is still potential speculation as we're waiting on the development of a couple of these guys, but the most fascinating thing that I not on this bench lineup ???

All were drafted AFTER THE 21ST PICK of their perspective drafts. All are 22yo or younger and all look like they could fill in as starters as needed. That's pretty impressive drafting if you ask me.

[TunaFish]

I was looking at the potential of our bench and how it can look in the next few years. We have several good young player and here's what I think we have as our 2nd unit

PG Bones Hyland - A 6'3" dynamic scoring playmaking guard capable of starting, has 20ppg+ potential and is developing his playmaking skills nicely.

SG Peyton Watson - A lanky 6'7" defensive stalwart who is in our G-league affiliate starting lineup. Has good offensive potential as well as he's averaging around 26ppg in the G, but the NBA is a different caliber.

SF Christian Braun - a 6'7" rookie who is already getting PT off the bench, he's already shown his defensive chomps and can shoot from downtown yet needs more consistency. A strong 3-D candidate.

PF Zeke Nnaji - Our 6'9" PF/C candidate is still only 21yo and has yet to gain a rotation role but he is buried due to veteran depth. He has shown some good shooting skills, can bang in the middle and run the break as well. A weapon in waiting ?

C Ismael Kamagate - A 6'11" shot blocker playing over in Euro, he's reported to be a strong rim-protector/rim-runner with athletic ability. Known more for his defense than offense, he'll be part of a stellar defensive 2nd unit

Now some of this is still potential speculation as we're waiting on the development of a couple of these guys, but the most fascinating thing that I not on this bench lineup ???

All were drafted AFTER THE 21ST PICK of their perspective drafts. All are 22yo or younger and all look like they could fill in as starters as needed. That's pretty impressive drafting if you ask me.

Solid views, no argument from me.

The one surprise to me is the lack of court time for Nnaji. Maybe he has an injury again or maybe Malone wants to use Green and Jordan more shutting him out of the lineup. I expected more from Nnaji.

[The Rebel]

I was looking at the potential of our bench and how it can look in the next few years. We have several good young player and here's what I think we have as our 2nd unit

PG Bones Hyland - A 6'3" dynamic scoring playmaking guard capable of starting, has 20ppg+ potential and is developing his playmaking skills nicely.

SG Peyton Watson - A lanky 6'7" defensive stalwart who is in our G-league affiliate starting lineup. Has good offensive potential as well as he's averaging around 26ppg in the G, but the NBA is a different caliber.

SF Christian Braun - a 6'7" rookie who is already getting PT off the bench, he's already shown his defensive chomps and can shoot from downtown yet needs more consistency. A strong 3-D candidate.

PF Zeke Nnaji - Our 6'9" PF/C candidate is still only 21yo and has yet to gain a rotation role but he is buried due to veteran depth. He has shown some good shooting skills, can bang in the middle and run the break as well. A weapon in waiting ?

C Ismael Kamagate - A 6'11" shot blocker playing over in Euro, he's reported to be a strong rim-protector/rim-runner with athletic ability. Known more for his defense than offense, he'll be part of a stellar defensive 2nd unit

Now some of this is still potential speculation as we're waiting on the development of a couple of these guys, but the most fascinating thing that I not on this bench lineup ???

All were drafted AFTER THE 21ST PICK of their perspective drafts. All are 22yo or younger and all look like they could fill in as starters as needed. That's pretty impressive drafting if you ask me.

Solid views, no argument from me.

The one surprise to me is the lack of court time for Nnaji. Maybe he has an injury again or maybe Malone wants to use Green and Jordan more shutting him out of the lineup. I expected more from Nnaji.

I have a feeling listening to Malone interviews and the broadcast talking about the rebounding, NNaji is on the bench due to his lack of rebounding in the games he did get into.

I had high hopes for NNaji coming into the season, and I really wish Malone would find some minutes for him. Especially against teams like the Celtics who are undersized, but now I wonder if he has a long term future with the team. He obviously has some talent, and I think he could contribute, but I do not know if Malone is ever going to give him the chance.

[Richard Miller]

I have a feeling listening to Malone interviews and the broadcast talking about the rebounding, NNaji is on the bench due to his lack of rebounding in the games he did get into.

Yea and some bad luck, when he finally got in the game early not garbage time he almost immediately got injured again. Though with the terrible performance from DJ had in Boston, maybe he gets a chance again tonight.

[Chuck Everett]

I have no hopes for Zeke personally. Probably should fill his role with a vet journeyman.

[skywalker33]

I have no hopes for Zeke personally. Probably should fill his role with a vet journeyman.

They've already picked up his option so the FO obviously sees more in him than you do, I'm sure they know more than you do about him. That said, I can see him as a trade asset, he shoots well clear out to the 3pt range, and has put on some more muscle to his help bang inside (he just has to do it).

[Chuck Everett]

I have no hopes for Zeke personally. Probably should fill his role with a vet journeyman.

They've already picked up his option so the FO obviously sees more in him than you do, I'm sure they know more than you do about him. That said, I can see him as a trade asset, he shoots well clear out to the 3pt range, and has put on some more muscle to his help bang inside (he just has to do it).

They might for sure. They also let Bol Bol go and we see how he's performing for Orlando now. They aren't infallible as a front office.

[psimanic1]

I have no hopes for Zeke personally. Probably should fill his role with a vet journeyman.

They've already picked up his option so the FO obviously sees more in him than you do, I'm sure they know more than you do about him. That said, I can see him as a trade asset, he shoots well clear out to the 3pt range, and has put on some more muscle to his help bang inside (he just has to do it).

They might for sure. They also let Bol Bol go and we see how he's performing for Orlando now. They aren't infallible as a front office.

not only Bol Bol...we find serviceable role players and then don't give them minutes, and when they are traded they show what they can do...Beasley, Vando, Bol Bol...probably Nnaji also..****, even Howard is balling out in Europe..Shooting 45% from 3 in Euroleague. Scoring 19pts in 21mpg. We also have 2nd best player from not so long ago European champions, and he is just sitting at end of the bench, while Green and especially Jordan are getting minutes..If even Jokic is not looking to score, and wants to integrate everyone before Playoffs, wouldn't it be good for the team to give some games to Vlatko and Zeke instead of Green and Jordan, you never know what you can get unless you give them more minutes. And I don't think bench can be that much worse with them instead...

[Maf]

They've already picked up his option so the FO obviously sees more in him than you do, I'm sure they know more than you do about him. That said, I can see him as a trade asset, he shoots well clear out to the 3pt range, and has put on some more muscle to his help bang inside (he just has to do it).

They might for sure. They also let Bol Bol go and we see how he's performing for Orlando now. They aren't infallible as a front office.

not only Bol Bol...we find serviceable role players and then don't give them minutes, and when they are traded they show what they can do...Beasley, Vando, Bol Bol...probably Nnaji also..****, even Howard is balling out in Europe..Shooting 45% from 3 in Euroleague. Scoring 19pts in 21mpg. We also have 2nd best player from not so long ago European champions, and he is just sitting at end of the bench, while Green and especially Jordan are getting minutes..If even Jokic is not looking to score, and wants to integrate everyone before Playoffs, wouldn't it be good for the team to give some games to Vlatko and Zeke instead of Green and Jordan, you never know what you can get unless you give them more minutes. And I don't think bench can be that much worse with them instead...

This immediately reminended me of Brian Scalabrini´s I am much closer to MJ than you are to me." Listen, I am glad if Marcus is having great career in Europe. But, the level of competition is so much lower! Like you might remember Jan Veselý, he had short stint in Denver as well. An NBA player, total bust. In Europe? Two times Euroleague MVP. Eurobasket? Younger Zaza Pachulia was able to put like 30 plus 15 easily.
Marcus is just too slow and small for NBA. Yet, he got there. That means he is amazing basketball player. Everyone in NBA is. So when they play against such lesser players as they do in Europe the will put on great show.

The rest of the players- Malik Beasley. I totally disagree. We all knew what he can do, our coaches, FO, they also knew they won´t be able to pay him. Also if you want to say he showed what is he capable of when given more minutes, it lead to him being back on a bench on same minutes as he was with us.

Jarred- I know a lot of fans loved him. But he wasn´t good fit with us. But I am also glad he is getting PT he wouldn´t have here.

Bol Bol- ok there is name that is like red towell for bull to me. First of all, he showed terrible attitude whenever he got minutes. I even couldn´t believe he got any more chances. Second, he is "balling." Meaning he puts irrelevant stats on lousy team. Every 20 wins teams have some players putting up stats, because nobody from good teams play hard against them. I admit I can end up being terribly wrong and somehow he will end up as great leader on good team. But I seriously doubt it.

[skywalker33]

I have no hopes for Zeke personally. Probably should fill his role with a vet journeyman.

They've already picked up his option so the FO obviously sees more in him than you do, I'm sure they know more than you do about him. That said, I can see him as a trade asset, he shoots well clear out to the 3pt range, and has put on some more muscle to his help bang inside (he just has to do it).

They might for sure. They also let Bol Bol go and we see how he's performing for Orlando now. They aren't infallible as a front office.

Well, what FO is infallible, stupid to think ANY are.....and Bol is having a decent year but he never showed anything here (at least on the court) so when he was traded most everyone thought of it as nothing more than a throw-in. Good for Bol, but I can't say it was a great loss at the time.

[psimanic1]

They might for sure. They also let Bol Bol go and we see how he's performing for Orlando now. They aren't infallible as a front office.

not only Bol Bol...we find serviceable role players and then don't give them minutes, and when they are traded they show what they can do...Beasley, Vando, Bol Bol...probably Nnaji also..****, even Howard is balling out in Europe..Shooting 45% from 3 in Euroleague. Scoring 19pts in 21mpg. We also have 2nd best player from not so long ago European champions, and he is just sitting at end of the bench, while Green and especially Jordan are getting minutes..If even Jokic is not looking to score, and wants to integrate everyone before Playoffs, wouldn't it be good for the team to give some games to Vlatko and Zeke instead of Green and Jordan, you never know what you can get unless you give them more minutes. And I don't think bench can be that much worse with them instead...

This immediately reminended me of Brian Scalabrini´s I am much closer to MJ than you are to me." Listen, I am glad if Marcus is having great career in Europe. But, the level of competition is so much lower! Like you might remember Jan Veselý, he had short stint in Denver as well. An NBA player, total bust. In Europe? Two times Euroleague MVP. Eurobasket? Younger Zaza Pachulia was able to put like 30 plus 15 easily.
Marcus is just too slow and small for NBA. Yet, he got there. That means he is amazing basketball player. Everyone in NBA is. So when they play against such lesser players as they do in Europe the will put on great show.

The rest of the players- Malik Beasley. I totally disagree. We all knew what he can do, our coaches, FO, they also knew they won´t be able to pay him. Also if you want to say he showed what is he capable of when given more minutes, it lead to him being back on a bench on same minutes as he was with us.

Jarred- I know a lot of fans loved him. But he wasn´t good fit with us. But I am also glad he is getting PT he wouldn´t have here.

Bol Bol- ok there is name that is like red towell for bull to me. First of all, he showed terrible attitude whenever he got minutes. I even couldn´t believe he got any more chances. Second, he is "balling." Meaning he puts irrelevant stats on lousy team. Every 20 wins teams have some players putting up stats, because nobody from good teams play hard against them. I admit I can end up being terribly wrong and somehow he will end up as great leader on good team. But I seriously doubt it.

I'm not saying Markus was supposed to get that much playing time, but we never got to see what could we get from him, from Vando, from Cancar, from Zeke, even Beasley, that was not about money, it was about keeping Barton and injured Harris who Malone loved. Beasley played quite good for role player and would help us in PO's last few years when one of the biggest need was 3pt shot. Problem with him is issues not basketball related, but still player that should've gotten more minutes.

As for Vando, I think he would be perfect fit for us now, problem with him was that Malone never puts player in position to succeed, if Malone thinks he should've played PG, he will play him there no matter what. Vando would be perfect PF/C backup on our team now, he is doing in UTA as starter, and did in MIN what we all expect from Deandre to do for just few minutes, not 20-25, 5-10 is enough. Same will happen with Zeke if we trade him, Bol Bol more or less, I don't care about him because he didn't care about Nuggets, ofc that's again Malones fault, he kills these guys mentally, give them 20min one game, then sit them another 5. Also, issue with Nuggets development is that if you are not similar to player that is playing in our starting 5 on your position, you better hope you get traded, because you for sure won't fit in our system that has nothing but Jokic centered offense. That's why we suck so much when Jokic is on the bench.

I get it that players love Malone, I get it that he is good guy, that we improved every year with him(but also Jokic improved every year and other players), but he sucks as COACH, he is not coaching ****, we have same issues every year, and that's on him, not on me.

[Richard Miller]

I'm not saying Markus was supposed to get that much playing time, but we never got to see what could we get from him, from Vando, from Cancar, from Zeke, even Beasley, that was not about money, it was about keeping Barton and injured Harris who Malone loved. Beasley played quite good for role player and would help us in PO's last few years when one of the biggest need was 3pt shot. Problem with him is issues not basketball related, but still player that should've gotten more minutes.

It literally was about money, Beasley was offered 3/30 mil. contract and he refused. Then he got 60 mil. in Minnesota. 60 mil. for a streaky shooter who doesn't defend - no thanks. What do you think that you can get from Markus, except shooting 3s? He's too small to defend anyone and he doesn't create for others, an undersized pure shooter/baller who doesn't do anything else, typical TC guy. The only question mark there is Zeke, but the season is still early and he was getting decent minutes last year, don't think they are intentionally blocking him.

[The Rebel]

I'm not saying Markus was supposed to get that much playing time, but we never got to see what could we get from him, from Vando, from Cancar, from Zeke, even Beasley, that was not about money, it was about keeping Barton and injured Harris who Malone loved. Beasley played quite good for role player and would help us in PO's last few years when one of the biggest need was 3pt shot. Problem with him is issues not basketball related, but still player that should've gotten more minutes.

It literally was about money, Beasley was offered 3/30 mil. contract and he refused. Then he got 60 mil. in Minnesota. 60 mil. for a streaky shooter who doesn't defend - no thanks. What do you think that you can get from Markus, except shooting 3s? He's too small to defend anyone and he doesn't create for others, an undersized pure shooter/baller who doesn't do anything else, typical TC guy. The only question mark there is Zeke, but the season is still early and he was getting decent minutes last year, don't think they are intentionally blocking him.

Having Harris and Barton played a role into it, especially since Connelly was the Barton protector according to beat writers last summer, but between the money and the off court issues there was no way Beasley was staying in Denver.

I agree on Howard, the guy got chances, with the injuries last year everybody got chances, NNaji showed he could play, Howard showed he was an undersized chucker that could not run an offense or defend a chair.

Vanderbilt would have never gotten minutes in Denver, we need shooting from our forwards for our entire offense to work. We have to keep the lane open for cutters when Jokic gets doubled or when running the pick and roll. Vanderbilt is a terrible shooter outside of 3 feet.

NNaji and Cancar both have had injuries when they do get chances to play in both of the last 2 seasons. That is not on the coach, that is just the way injuries work.

I think that Jeff Green helps stabilize the bench, he is always the one that seems to find a way to score when the bench falls apart.

I think Jordan is also playing a key role with the bench. During times outs and free throws Jordan seems to always be in Bones ear. I think we all agree that Bones is getting better, and having a veteran that he listens to like Jordan can't hurt.

Ultimately either you believe this team is a contender or you don't. If you are a contender than you cannot expect to spend all your bench minutes on talented malcontents who refuse to put effort in like Bol, you can't just see what you have when guys like Howard have already shown huge holes in their games, and you can't force feed minutes to guys who are constantly getting injured. At the end of the day we are a contender when healthy, we have a 2nd year PG running the bench, and a rookie as our 4th SG/SF, what other contender is developing 2 guys in their 1st two years as large parts of their rotations? NNaji and Cancar have to show they bring more value than the guys in front of them, or they have to wait.

[TunaFish]

Cancar has played pretty well and may end up in the bench rotation even when Jeff Green comes back. Jordan has been better than we thought and seems to fit well. The question now is how much playing time will Ish Smith get when Bones is back?