After months of waiting for news, Denver Nuggets fans are getting a wealth of updates now. The front office structure has been announced, Denver did not make a draft pick but did add players for Summer League, and now the dates of the Summer League schedule for Denver have been announced.
Denver will open play on July 10th against the Milwaukee Bucks, then play the Minnesota Timberwolves on July 12th, the Toronto Raptors on July 15th and the Los Angeles Clippers on July 17th. All games are in the evening, so only skip work if you want to. The games will be on NBA TV and the ESPN family of networks, and per Katy Winge it looks like Altitude will have coverage as well – with her in Vegas for the first 3 games.
So who is suiting up for Denver? The Nuggets will be sending DaRon Holmes II for sure, that has been confirmed – and man will it be great to see him playing again in a Nuggets uniform. They will also send new two-way contract signee guard Tamar Bates to Vegas, along with guards Curtis Jones and Reyne Smith who both have also signed for at least Summer League. Stiffs briefly covered Bates and Jones here, both of whom should be fun Summer League watches and can find a fit on this team with their skillsets. Smith is another shooter Denver wants to take a look at.
An Australian who attended Louisville last year, the 6’0 (and 3/4) Smith is a career 90+ percent shooter from the line, like Bates, and shoots 37.3% from deep for his college career on 8 attempts per game. His job is to shoot, period. Payton Pritchard from the Boston Celtics has almost the exact same height and 6’4 wingspan that Smith has. He shot 37.9% from 3 at Oregon but he was also more of a point guard with a good assist rate, while Smith is almost purely a shooter. The lefty Smith did make 10 threes in a game last year though, and with Denver’s dire need for bench buckets all three of these scorers are going to get a long look in Vegas.
Denver is determined to find some offensive assistance to help plug holes in case of injury or need, and we’ll get our first look in two weeks when the games start for the Nuggets! To tide you over, please enjoy this highlight reel from Tamar Bates, who is in position to get a very long look from Denver throughout the season on that two-way deal.
