Two recent NBA draft picks have found new NBA homes as the deadline looms.

With the deadline today for NBA teams to sign players to two-way deals, 2022 first-round pick Dave Roddy has landed with the Denver Nuggets. Meanwhile, 2023 second-round selection Rayan Rupert inked deal with the Memphis Grizzlies. Both teams entered the day with a full 18-man roster.

According to Michael Scotto of HoopHype, Denver decided to waive Tamar Bates — out for the season with a foot fracture — in order to sign the veteran Roddy.  Roddy, who has 168 games of NBA experience, has spent the entire season with the G-League’s Raptors 905 though he is also part of the USA national team World Cup qualifying team

“The Denver Nuggets plan to sign David Roddy to a two-way deal, league sources told hoopshype,” Scotto tweeted. “Roddy has averaged 6.2 points and 2.9 rebounds over three NBA seasons combined with the Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Houston Rockets.”

2022 First Rounder and 2023 Second Round Selection Among Several Players To Find NBA Homes

Roddy has shown that he is a Triple-A-plus player, using MLB’s terms for a borderline NBA player, in his G League stints. The 24-year-old has also proven to be a solid NBA role player, though his efficiency hasn’t been up to snuff. He averages 1.1 points per shot and 49.4% effective field goal percentage.

Roddy is a 6-4, 255‑pound small‑ball forward whose game blends power, touch, play-making and agility. Roddy has played well this year with the Raptors 905 and USA Basketball, where he compiled 28 points on 75% shooting from the field and seven threes in two games for the Americans against the Dominican Republic and Mexico. He averaged 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists with four double-doubles in 35 games for Toronto’s affiliate. Additionally, he made 1.2 threes while compiling shooting splits of 47.6/38.6/69.

Roddy, eligible to be active in 11 NBA games, makes sense for the Nuggets as the team values strong, multi‑positional defenders and high‑IQ role players.  The Nuggets sits fifth in the West at 38-24 as they have several players dealing with injuries. However, Peyton Watson, Spencer Jones, Cameron Johnson and Aaron Gordon are expected to be back soon.

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