Veteran center Mason Plumlee happy to settle in Denver after signing multiyear contract.
BOU L DER» Mason Plumlee stepped through a Denver rite of passage last week, heading to Red Rocks for a concert featuring the rock band NEEDTOBREATHE.
That was part of Plumlee’s efforts to explore his new home city, even taking suggestions from fans on restaurants to try and sites to visit. Plumlee now feels comfortable sinking some roots into Denver, after resigning with the Nuggets just before the start of training camp. The 6-foot11 big man is expected to be a key part of the rotation as the backup center behind Nikola Jokic.
“For somebody to appreciate what you do is empowering and exciting,” Plumlee said.
Coaches and teammates laud Plumlee — who arrived in Denver at the trade deadline last season in the deal that sent Jusf Nurkic to the Portland Trail Blazers — for his combination of strength, athleticism and intelligence.
He can facilitate from the post, helping Denver’s high-powered offense continue to hum when Jokic goes to the bench. He’s accustomed to playing aggressively against the pickand-roll, an emphasis as Denver aims to improve defensively overall. And he is hoping to set an example for the younger players on how to form and carry out professional daily habits.
“He brings us a physicality and presence that, really, none of the other guys really have,” coach Michael Malone said. “He is a lob threat on offense and he’s a rim protector on defense. On top of that, he’s a very skilled and capable playmaker.
“I’m so excited that we’ve finally got him signed, he’s here and we’ll continue to work him in and use him in the best manner possible.”
Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said after the team acquired Plumlee that he was a player the team had “circled early” as a potential free-agent target. The Nuggets snagged his restricted rights in the trade. Yet Plumlee and Malone acknowledged it’s sometimes difficult for a player to find rhythm with a new team that late in the season, particularly be- cause practices become infrequent.
Plumlee finished 2016-17 averaging 10.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 53.6 percent from the floor. He stayed in a Denver hotel until the end of the season, a lifestyle he described as “different.”
But Plumlee wanted to be part of the Nuggets’ young roster focused on winning, a mentality he said is “not always the case, so you have to embrace it and join in.” He wrote a letter to Nuggets fans on his website after signing the contract reportedly worth $41 million over three years, soliciting tips that have since taken him to local hot spots such as Il Posto and Acorn. After summer travels to New York, Africa and Dubai, Plumlee finally moved into his Denver apartment last week.
Before the Nuggets’ media day, Plumlee shook hands with team owner Stan Kroenke and said thank you. Because now Plumlee can focus on basketball — and life in Denver.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Plumlee said. “It’s a responsibility, and it’s something that I look forward to owning as long as I’m here.”
Footnotes. Veteran point guard Jameer Nelson missed practice again because of a big-toe injury, and Malone said he doesn’t expect Nelson to play in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Warriors at Golden State. … Malone did not mince words when evaluating the Nuggets’ first preseason scrimmage Wednesday night — the second unit “dominated” the starters. “Early on (the starters) were fine, and then they hit a little adversity and then they folded,” Malone said. “… The damage was done early. It was a great teaching point in our film session today about ‘I don’t care if you make a mistake. Show the effort and a willingness to get back in the play and not give up.’ ” … The Nuggets exercised the fourth-year options on Emmanuel Mudiay and Trey Lyles, as well as the third-year options on Jamal Murray, Malik Beasley and Juancho Hernangomez.