The two newest Nuggets made their Summer League debuts, and a Denver executive provided an offseason update during a 97-86 loss to the Rockets Friday in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
Here are three takeaways from Denver\u2019s opener at Cox Pavilion:<\/p>\n
The most meaningful part of the game came when Denver\u2019s executive vice president of player personnel, Jonathan Wallace, joined the ESPN2 broadcast. After discussing the Nuggets\u2019 two second-round draft picks, the broadcast team asked Wallace about Nikola Jokic\u2019s decision against signing a contract extension this summer. Jokic, speaking in Serbian, said he plans to sign an extension next summer and still wants to finish his NBA career with the Nuggets.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe feel confident. We trust him,\u201d Wallace said. \u201cHe\u2019s been very vocal and very consistent with that up until this point.\u201d<\/p>\n
The conversation then shifted to what comes next for the Nuggets. Denver is among the teams waiting for LeBron James to decide where he wants to play next. The Nuggets also have Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones\u2019 restricted free agency to sort through.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re still evaluating. We\u2019re having conversations. We\u2019re not pressured or rushed in any sense,\u201d Wallace said. \u201cWe\u2019re a unique team from the standpoint of \u2026 we\u2019ve kind of got to let things play out. We know who we are. We know what it takes for us to be successful, so we have to be patient.\u201d<\/p>\n
2. NBA dreams are not made or broken in one Summer League game, but Denver\u2019s two draft picks provided plenty of positives. Bryce Hopkins was the Nuggets\u2019 best player in the opener, scoring a team-high 24 points on 13 shots. The 6-foot-7 wing was at his best attacking the rim and knocked down one of his two attempts from 3-point range. Denver\u2019s pick at No. 49 also grabbed four rebounds, recorded three steals and blocked two shots. Trevon Brazile, the 35th overall pick, didn\u2019t enjoy his most efficient scoring night, finishing 2 of 8 from the field. Brazile did connect on his only 3-pointer and grabbed 11 rebounds with five of those coming on the offensive glass.<\/p>\n
Neither Hopkins nor Brazile has publicly signed contracts ahead of next season. As second-round picks, the duo is not guaranteed a standard contract.<\/p>\n
3. The implementation of an experimental rule where players who get fouled shoot one free throw worth from one to three points, depending on the variety of the foul, is great for speeding up Summer League games, but it has no place in meaningful basketball games. Houston went 20 for 27 at the line, while Denver went 17 for 24.<\/p>\n
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