Maize's New Nuggets | Building A Champion, At A Mile High

[Maize08]

Re: Maize's New Nuggets | Building A Champion, At A Mile High

Nuggets Release Summer League Roster
The Nuggets are heading for the annual Summer League. One of 24 teams competing in this summer's event in Las Vegas; Denver is gearing up for being one of the youngest teams in the NBA for the 2015-16 season. It starts with developing that young talent in Vegas.

Phil Weber, the team's Associate Head Coach, will serve as the team's Summer League Head Coach. Next to him on the bench, Assistant Coach Dan D'Antoni and Chris Duhon. Duhon served as an Assistant Coach at Marshall under Coach D'Antoni and has followed him to Denver. The former Duke Blue Devil and NBA veteran is expected to be given a position with the Nuggets coaching staff.

The roster can easily be broken down. Consisting of 12 players; there are five Nuggets, four of which are second-year players: Erick Green, Gary Harris, Joffrey Lauvergne, and Cleanthony Early. Harris and Green, rookies for the Nuggets last season, bother participated with the team in Summer League last year. They return, along with Early who was a bright spot for the Knicks team last July.

Besides those four players, rookie Mario Hezonja will be a part of the team. Hezonja is expected to play limited minutes, as he continues to transition to the NBA game. The team already announced he will start at least one of the team's first three games.

Joining those five, are four undrafted rookies (Brad Waldow, Andre Hollins, Derrick Marks, and Larry Nance) an NBA D-League player (Travis Hyman), and two NBA veterans who have played for Mike D'Antoni in the past. Devin Ebanks and Marcus Landry are both looking to impress in this year's Summer League. If not for the Nuggets, then for the rest of the league.

The Summer League is not just a showcase for young talent, but also a place for veterans to attempt to make an NBA team. Ebanks played for the D-League Select Summer League team last year. During last season, he played professionally in Israel and Mexico, always wanting to return to the NBA.

A second round pick of the Lakers in 2010, he would stick with the Lakers until D'Antoni's first season. Going back-and-forth between the NBA and D-League, he is hoping to land another shot at the league with D'Antoni again.

The other former D'Antoni player, Marcus Landry is another forward attempting to make it back into the NBA. Landry has spent two years professionally in Spain. Drafted by the Knicks, and coached by Mike D'Antoni as a rookie, he would bounce around the NBA before being out of the league in 2013.

The coaching staff is very excited about a strong group of rookies. The team is very high on Wyoming's Larry Nance, who helped the Cowboys make the NCAA tournament. The Nuggets contemplated taking Nance at 60, instead opting for Aleksandar Vezenkov. Vezenkov is still under contract with Aris BC, and has no obligation to join the Summer League squad.

Saint Mary's center Brad Waldow joins Travis Hyman as the only true centers on the roster. Although Joffrey Lauvergne will split time between the 4 and 5. In the back court, Harris, Green, and Hezonja are joined by Boise State's Derrick Marks and Minnesota's Andre Hollins. Both are expected long-shots of making the teams final roster.

D-League play opens Friday, but the Nuggets will start play on Saturday. They will play three straight games, before the league's tournament starts on Wednesday. Every team is guaranteed at least one tournament game, with league action wrapping up with a Championship Game on Sunday, July 20th.

Denver Nuggets Summer League Schedule
Saturday, July 11 - vs. Houston
Sunday, July 12 - vs. Toronto
Monday, July 13 - vs. Atlanta

Denver Nuggets 2015 Summer League Roster
00 Brad Waldow - C - 6’10” 270 - Saint Mary’s
1 Andre Hollins - PG - 6’2” 195 - Minnesota
2 Derrick Marks - SG - 6’3” 210 - Boise State
3 Devin Ebanks - SF - 6’9” 220 - West Virginia
4 Travis Hyman - C - 7’0” 245 - Bowie State
11 Erick Green - PG - 6’4” 185 - Virginia Tech
13 Mario Hezonja - SG/SF - 6’8” 200 - Croatia
14 Gary Harris - SG - 6’4” 210 - Michigan State
17 Cleanthony Early - SF - 6’8” 220 - Wichita State
22 Larry Nance - PF - 6’8” 235 - Wyoming
24 Marcus Landry - SF - 6’7” 230 - Wisconsin
77 Joffrey Lauvergne - PF/C - 6’11” 225 - France

[Maize08]

Re: Maize's New Nuggets | Building A Champion, At A Mile High

Wes Matthews In, For Mile High Price
In what has been a surprising NBA off-season, the surprises just keep coming. One day after Al Jefferson’s surprise deal with the Bucks, another star is on the move. Wesley Matthews was set to hit free agency while enjoying a career season. Known around the league as a defensive stopper and sharp-shooting wing player - Matthews was set for a big payday.

That was before an achilles injury would cost him the last 20 games of the NBA season. Matthews was averaging 15 points while shooting 38% from three-point range. The injury was a hit to the Blazers’ title chances. His loss would limp Portland into the postseason; before they were bounced by the Clippers. His recovery is reportedly ahead of schedule, possibly ready to start the next season. That would mean close to an eight month recovery for the 28 year old shooting guard.

The news of his recovery did help his free agency, but it focused on three teams: a return to the Blazers, or a move to New York or Denver. In the end, Matthews happily signed with the Denver Nuggets. Signing a three year deal worth $32.85 million, he is set to make $21.78 million over the first two seasons of the contract. His third year is a player option worth just over eleven million dollars.

Possibly overpaying for his services, the Nuggets front office are thrilled to land Matthews. General Manager Tim Connelly said Matthews is a perfect fit for Coach D’Antoni and gives the Nuggets two big perimeter threats. Likely joining Ty Lawson in the starting backcourt, Matthews also gives the team another strong shooter. Along with Danilo Gallinari, Gary Harris and Cleanthony Early, the team has definitely positioned the roster to push the pace on the wings, adding a high volume of outside shots.

The Nuggets seemed happy to have Gary Harris and rookie Mario Hezonja share time at the two-guard spot. Instead, they have decided to go for a quality veteran to jump-start their rebuilding efforts. Connelly hinted the Nuggets want to make the playoffs.

Matthews will wear #22 with the Nuggets. The Nuggets now have 13 players under contract, but there are still rumors they are looking for a replacement for Kenneth Faried. Meaning the team could be in the trade market to add another big man. Over two months before training camp, the Nuggets are focusing on getting the roster healthy and young players progressing through Summer League.