Grant could see time at center

COLORADO SPRINGS Nuggets coach Michael Malone isn’t above asking for help from his rivals.

Malone sought out Oklahoma City Thunder coach Billy Donovan this past summer when the two were in Chicago for the annual NBA coaches’ meetings. He wanted to know the best way to utilize versatile big man Jerami Grant, who blossomed in his third year under Donovan and was then traded to Denver for a first- round pick this past summer.

While Malone didn’t elaborate on the specifics Donovan gave him, Grant is expected to start the season as the backup power forward behind Paul Millsap.

“I think Jerami Grant can play ( center),” Malone said from Nuggets training camp. “Jerami’s ability to screen and roll, finish around the basket, catch passes in traffic and make plays from that, he’s really, really good in that regard. I think you can play him at ( power forward), you can play him at ( center). Same thing with Paul.”

A small- ball lineup with Grant at center would jeopardize Mason Plumlee’s minutes as Nikola Jokic’s backup. But unlike Plumlee, who’s best used as a board crasher and rim- runner, Grant could add a strong two- way player capable of stretching the floor. Grant averaged a career- high 13.6 points last year and shot 39% from the 3- point line.

“He’s good,” Jokic said. “Sometimes he surprises me with how athletic he is.”

Malone is just thrilled that Grant will add another defensive wrinkle to their top- 10 defense.

“His ability to get off the floor quickly is remarkable,” Malone added. “He is a rim protector, he is a shot blocker.”

Head- to- head.

The Nuggets have competition for minutes up and down their roster. Whether it’s at small forward, where Torrey Craig and Juancho Hernangomez have the inside track to start, or in the backcourt, the Nuggets’ depth has manifested in friendly competition.

“Today, me and Monte ( Morris) got at it,” Malik Beasley said. “He knew I was playing with him, but I just pressured him a little bit, got into his stuff because that’s what he’s going to be going against in the real season.”

Morris laughed when asked about Beasley’s description of the play.

“It was one possession, he picked me up full and just tried to get into me but it resulted in a foul like three steps later,” Morris said. “I don’t call that giving it to me.”