The bread and butter of this Nuggets bench unit doesn’t need to be too complicated, as David Adelman sees it.
They’ll push the pace with a pass-first backup point guard and an athletic, rim-running backup center. They’ll send shooters to the corners, a standard spacing arrangement. They’ll play classical pick-and-roll basketball with Marvin Bagley III barreling through the paint.
“And if that doesn’t work,” Adelman said, “we slow the hell down and get DeMar DeRozan the ball.”
His new-look second unit is starting to take shape this week, albeit with ever-changing variables. The acquisition of Ryan Nembhard was finalized a couple of hours after Denver’s second practice of training camp on Wednesday, introducing a new point guard candidate to the proceedings alongside Tyus Jones.
“We’ve gotta figure out who fits best around DeMar,” Adelman said before that signing. “Is that a defensive lineup? Is that more offense? Featuring Julian (Strawther)? But DeMar is a safety valve. It’s not just about him making shots. It’s about the fact that he shoots shots and doesn’t turn the ball over. He shoots free throws. … I like the idea of playing fast to playing slow. Chicago did that with him a little bit with Billy (Donovan). They had a fast, athletic team, and when they didn’t get something easy, it was all about going to (DeRozan).”
DeRozan’s mid-post game is the known entity. The rest is a work in progress for a team that watched its depth erode this offseason, particularly with the losses of Peyton Watson and Tim Hardaway Jr. For now, an initial version of Denver’s second unit has consisted primarily of Jones, Strawther, DeRozan, Spencer Jones and Bagley. Of course, that doesn’t account for how Adelman will choose to rotate his subs. All-bench lineups are rare, and a key part of the equation will be figuring out which starter — or starters — to stagger when Jokic isn’t on the floor.
The second-year head coach made one thing clear Wednesday: Bagley is going to anchor those minutes.
“(I see him) as a five right now,” Adelman said when asked about the possibility of Bagley eventually being used as a power forward. “I was really impressed with Spencer as a four last year. I think at the four spot, (Trevon Brazile) is really talented. He’s got a chance. I want to keep him there and get him comfortable with that spot. In a pinch, obviously, (Bagley) can do it. But he’s a traditional five to me.”
That pretty much lines up with Bagley’s recent experience as a journeyman, though he arrived in Denver ready to handle either position.
“I can play both,” he said. “Obviously, the last few teams I’ve been on, I’ve been the five, playing a lot of five, backup five. But I feel like I can play both. I can shoot the 3. Make quick decisions in the pick-and-roll.”
Bagley, 27, was visited by members of the Nuggets’ front office this summer in Arizona, where he’s from. He cited conversations with Adelman and Jon Wallace when describing his decision to sign a one-year veteran minimum contract with Denver.
Now, the goal is to stay put for a full season. Bagley has changed teams mid-season in four of the last five years. Sacramento to Detroit. Detroit to Washington. Washington to Memphis. Washington to Dallas.
“That’s always the goal, to be able to have security. But this is what we sign up for,” he said. “Every year, a lot of things can happen. Things you can’t control happen. But I just try to be in the moment, be present, do what I can in the moment and not worry about the rest. If I get to a place that has that (security), then great. But I’m just enjoying the journey, because it won’t be here for long.”
One key lesson he’s learned along the way is to not wait until the eve of training camp to show up. He got settled in Denver earlier in the summer, hoping to build relationships with the player development staff and learn how the team operates.
“I’ve had to do it a few times, man. … Just getting to where I’m at, getting there earlier (is important). Asking questions,” Bagley said. “No question is dumb to me. If you don’t know, don’t be afraid to ask. I’m still learning. It’s going into year nine. I don’t know a lot, and I’m OK with that. That’s the only way to get better. So for me, (I want) just to continue to show up every day, learn from my mistakes and learn from the good stuff, too.”
In Colorado specifically, the early arrival also helps master the elements.
“He was great today. I thought yesterday, he looked completely gassed halfway through. And today, his head was on the rim the whole day. We competed a lot today. So it was a lot of running with these guys. … Marvin has some special skills, and I think for him, he hasn’t played meaningful basketball in a long time. People forget what that means to players. Instead of just trying to survive in your career, you’re actually out here trying to fit into a good team. And I think he’s really enjoying it, playing with Tyus. The second unit is fun. You get rewarded for running hard.”
Bagley has overlapped with Jones before, when they were both Wizards — a dynamic that Adelman thinks should help the big man get acclimated. The question looming over Bagley’s season will be whether he can play well enough to be considered a factor in Denver’s playoff rotation. The former No. 2 overall draft pick has appeared in two playoff games in his career, both for Memphis in 2025.
“Exciting,” he said. “Being able to come to a winning situation and being able to learn and get that experience and contribute, I think that’s what I’m looking for in my career right now.”
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