Nunn of the above
With the 2nd-year guard again producing, is the NBA now taking notice?
There is a twisted irony with Kendrick Nunn’s resurrection, that by rekindling memories of why he was runner-up to Ja Morant for NBA Rookie of the Year last season, he still might not be playing himself into the Miami Heat’s rotation.
But he might be playing himself into a trade.
Having struggled in last season’s playoffs after a bout with COVID19,
and then lost in the roster shuffle at the start of this season, Nunn was both out of sight from the Heat rotation, and out of the minds of many around the league.
Now, after scoring 18 points in Monday night’s victory over the Detroit Pistons and then 28 in Wednesday night’s victory over the Toronto Raptors, the 6-foot-2 guard has offered, during the Heat’s lone winning streak of the season, a reminder of what he had sustained through most of last season.
Wednesday night’s effort was particularly impressive, his 28 points accompanied by eight rebounds and five assists.
“It’s the minutes. It’s the minutes for me,” Nunn said of this latest opportunity. “It’s getting in the game and getting in the flow of the game. Then, after that, I just be myself, getting into the flow of the game, getting into a rhythm and making winning plays.”
Wednesday’s minutes came with Jimmy Butler, Avery Bradley and Tyler Herro out of the mix.
But when those three return, Nunn likely sets up as no better than the sixth wing in the Heat rotation, when also factoring in Goran Dragic and Andre Iguodala.
Where this resurgence could particularly pay off for the Heat is on the trade market, where there the Heat are limited with draft assets, and would prefer not to package away the combined youth of Herro, Duncan Robinson and Precious Achiuwa.
Nunn, if back up to speed, could have particular value in that regard, considering an acquiring team would obtain a relatively low offseason cap hold, as well as the right to match outside offers next summer in restricted free agency.
For now, Nunn again has made himself a Heat asset. Wednesday was the first time he scored 20 or more points in a victory since Feb. 29 of last season, against the Brooklyn Nets.
With Butler and Bradley almost certain to also miss Friday’s rematch with the Raptors at Tampa’s Amalie Arena, due to pandemic protocols, and with Herro questionable because of neck spasms, the minutes again should be there.
“K-Nunn has an incredible competitive character,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He really does. He has a grit and a perseverance to him, that not only do you have confidence that he’ll be able to respond from this kind of adversity, but you respect him so much, that you’re like really rooting for him, and you really want it for him.
“It was great just to see all the work that nobody else does see behind the scenes. He just grinds and works at it every day.”
It is the opportunity Nunn has been seeking as validation of last season not being a career outlier.
“It feels good, just getting out there and getting some minutes and be able to play,” he said. “It’s tough sitting on the bench and watching my team out there, and I know I can help us win. So it’s tough sitting on the sidelines. But when my name is called, go out there and produce. Which is what I did.”
To the delight of teammates who already have seen it.
“It was his turn,” center Bam Adebayo said. “So we’re just going to enjoy his success and just keep feeding off it. He’s a spark for us and it was good to see him out there getting back to himself.”
It is that part of Nunn’s game that teammates value.
It is performances such as these past two that could yet attract outside attention.
“He stayed ready,” teammate Goran Dragic said. “He stayed focused. He worked hard in practice, and he carried it on to the game.”