(DEN) Michael Porter on Christian Braun vs KCP

[BelgradeNugget]

Why? Look at Braun's per 36 by season and you could see this is definitely sustainable. He's steadily improved since he was a rookie. There was a reason Nuggets fans weren't heartbroken that KCP left like the rest of the league seemed to be.

What about his per 36 numbers should I be looking at?

He's averaged 11.5 and 13ppg per 36, this year he's at 15.

His TS% has gone from 55.5% last year to 63.5% this year. League average is 58%.
He's shooting 57% on 2's, last year he shot 50%.
He's shooting 42% from 3, last year he shot 38%.
He's shooting 88% from the line, last year he shot 69%.

I think it's reasonable to expect improvement from a third year guy, but thats a pretty massive leap across the board and I just want more than 6 games to think he's made that big of a leap.

In this numbers you can find the answer to your previous question about KCP/Brown vs KCP/Braun vs Braun/Strawther. This year Braun was put in his perfect role (the same thing happened to AG few years eariler)

1. KCP/Brown was good combination - KCP good as 5the starter, can't create, plays off of the others, Brown can create some for himself and the others
2. KCP/Braun was not so good combintion - both are at their best playing off of the others in 5th starter role
3. Braun/Strawther - Braun as 5the starter, Strawther can create some for himself and the others, has the best potential as 6th man (especilally on O) of the group

[BelgradeNugget]

The Murray and Porter deals are catching up with them. Case in point, how can they pay Braun?

Braun is on rookie deal for 2 more season, Qualifying Offer in 26/27

[nomansland]

The Murray and Porter deals are catching up with them. Case in point, how can they pay Braun?

Braun is on rookie deal for 2 more season, Qualifying Offer in 26/27

That and the cap will go up.

[Ryoga Hibiki]

The Murray and Porter deals are catching up with them. Case in point, how can they pay Braun?

Braun is on rookie deal for 2 more season, Qualifying Offer in 26/27

That and the cap will go up.

as will his contract demands.
in 27 the Nuggets will be 20m under the second apron with both Brown and Watson to extend. if they both hit this year good luck, even assuming you can get rid of nnaji's deal

[BelgradeNugget]

Braun is on rookie deal for 2 more season, Qualifying Offer in 26/27

That and the cap will go up.

as will his contract demands.
in 27 the Nuggets will be 20m under the second apron with both Brown and Watson to extend. if they both hit this year good luck, even assuming you can get rid of nnaji's deal

Looking at Sportac they will be 26 mil under the 2nd apron. 11 contract. If they resign Brown and Watson for 26 mil that is 13 contracts. They still have 7,5 mil Nnaji's contract to trade (33 mil for both + 1 vet min). Good thing is MPJ's 40 mil expiring in 26/27. Problem with 2nd apron is if you stay over for 2 seasons, so in 27/28 they can still get under...but it is 3 years from now, distant future in the NBA

[Bergmaniac]

KCP has been shooting Westbrook-like for us so far, BTW. His shooting numbers are bound to improve, but he's so limited offensively outside of his 3s (by my count every time he has had to put the ball on the floor and try to create something in a halfcourt offense so far this season it has led to a miss) that it's hard to blame a team in Denver's financial situation for being unwilling to spend over 20 mln. per year on him.

[Ryoga Hibiki]

KCP has been shooting Westbrook-like for us so far, BTW. His shooting numbers are bound to improve, but he's so limited offensively outside of his 3s (by my count every time he has had to put the ball on the floor and try to create something in a halfcourt offense so far this season it has led to a miss) that it's hard to blame a team in Denver's financial situation for being unwilling to spend over 20 mln. per year on him.

I think the general discussion is very lazy and people who were outraged about a "financial move" are just showing their biases

[Ryoga Hibiki]

That and the cap will go up.

as will his contract demands.
in 27 the Nuggets will be 20m under the second apron with both Brown and Watson to extend. if they both hit this year good luck, even assuming you can get rid of nnaji's deal

Looking at Sportac they will be 26 mil under the 2nd apron. 11 contract. If they resign Brown and Watson for 26 mil that is 13 contracts. They still have 7,5 mil Nnaji's contract to trade (33 mil for both + 1 vet min). Good thing is MPJ's 40 mil expiring in 26/27. Problem with 2nd apron is if you stay over for 2 seasons, so in 27/28 they can still get under...but it is 3 years from now, distant future in the NBA

I might be looking at the wrong number.
Either way, Braun can command something between 25 and 35, if he continues with this play.
If Watson hits, no less than the MLE thag would be 15-16m, potentially much more.
"cheap rookie contracts" don't stay cheap to long

[nikster]

KCP has been shooting Westbrook-like for us so far, BTW. His shooting numbers are bound to improve, but he's so limited offensively outside of his 3s (by my count every time he has had to put the ball on the floor and try to create something in a halfcourt offense so far this season it has led to a miss) that it's hard to blame a team in Denver's financial situation for being unwilling to spend over 20 mln. per year on him.

I think the general discussion is very lazy and people who were outraged about a "financial move" are just showing their biases

Still that type of player is good playing beside Jokic and Nuggets replaced him with nobody. I'd they don't do anything with that money but keep it in their pockets i don't know how it's not a mistake.

[Ryoga Hibiki]

KCP has been shooting Westbrook-like for us so far, BTW. His shooting numbers are bound to improve, but he's so limited offensively outside of his 3s (by my count every time he has had to put the ball on the floor and try to create something in a halfcourt offense so far this season it has led to a miss) that it's hard to blame a team in Denver's financial situation for being unwilling to spend over 20 mln. per year on him.

I think the general discussion is very lazy and people who were outraged about a "financial move" are just showing their biases

Still that type of player is good playing beside Jokic and Nuggets replaced him with nobody. I'd they don't do anything with that money but keep it in their pockets i don't know how it's not a mistake.

it's not just the money, it's the opportunity to keep flexibility for the future (having picks to move, mle, easier trades), buying yourself time (I don't think any team will accept to have a pick being moved to #30, you can stay over the 1nd apron max two years), giving the young guys an opportunity to develop.
100% Braun wouldn't have looked like this with KCP there.

Once again, we're discussing of something very marginal vs what's going on with jamal

[BelgradeNugget]

Once again, we're discussing of something very marginal vs what's going on with jamal

After first 2 games the question was what's going on with jamal and MPJ

MPJ

first 2 games
12/8.5/2.5 shooting 30%/19%/100%

last 5 games
18.8/6.8/2.6 shooting 54%/44%/55%

He is fine now, Jamal will be fine soon, and Nuggets contenders for championship once again

[Ryoga Hibiki]

Once again, we're discussing of something very marginal vs what's going on with jamal

After first 2 games the question was what's going on with jamal and MPJ

MPJ

first 2 games
12/8.5/2.5 shooting 30%/19%/100%

last 5 games
18.8/6.8/2.6 shooting 54%/44%/55%

He is fine now, Jamal will be fine soon, and Nuggets contenders for championship once again

This is wishful thinking. MPj played great against the Lakers and looked very good in preseason. It was reasonable to think he just was in a shooting slump.
Since the injury late last RS, Jamal has been bad in the playoffs, awful in the Olympics, bad in preseason, bad in the RS games he played so far. It's not like there's no hope, but we can't even assume that all be good, eventually.

[TimeisIllmatic]

I think DEN will just have to rely on the buyout market to fix their bench.

[nomansland]

I think DEN will just have to rely on the buyout market to fix their bench.

Somehow I doubt the Kroenkes will do it, but I'd like to see them buy out Pickett and go after Lonny Walker.

[HotRocks34]

Braun may simply be a better player than KCP at this point.

I think Jokic probably helped KCP a good deal.

[BigGargamel]

Braun may simply be a better player than KCP at this point.

I think Jokic probably helped KCP a good deal.

Nuggets fans been saying this.

KCP is better than a Will Barton or Bruce Brown, but it's super obvious that Jokic makes these guys better than they really are.

Even so, Braun deserves those 34+ minutes a night. He's a difference maker.

[BigGargamel]

I think DEN will just have to rely on the buyout market to fix their bench.

Somehow I doubt the Kroenkes will do it, but I'd like to see them buy out Pickett and go after Lonny Walker.

Denver has too many wasted roster spots right now. Something has to change.

Daron Holmes out for the year - unfortunate
DeAndre Jordan - basically a player/coach. He can only realistically play like once a week
Jalen Pickett - I mean, he's just not an NBA player. A second rounder and worth the gamble, time to cut bait.
Vlatko Cancar - only on the team because he's buddies with Jokic.
Dario Saric - shouldn't even be in the NBA at this point. Beyond washed up.

That's five wasted roster sports. Every spot is important. There's quite a few street free agents they could pick up later on, I hope they get a guy or two and things will be fine.

[HotRocks34]

Braun may simply be a better player than KCP at this point.

I think Jokic probably helped KCP a good deal.

Nuggets fans been saying this.

KCP is better than a Will Barton or Bruce Brown, but it's super obvious that Jokic makes these guys better than they really are.

Even so, Braun deserves those 34+ minutes a night. He's a difference maker.

I agree. He is. And he's just getting started.

[AleksandarN]

Most improved player of the year?

Read on Twitter

[_NoMas]

Most improved player of the year?

Read on Twitter

Probably Norman Powell