Bates-Diop provides best value among Nuggets trade additions
It’s hard to blame the lukewarm reaction of Nuggets fans to the four-team trade that brought four new faces to the franchise — at least temporarily.
Denver’s trade deadline haul this week doesn’t inspire confidence in a deep playoff push or provide that so-called missing piece that opens a path to the championship.
A buzzkill, really. Pelicans star Jrue Holliday isn’t walking through that door at Pepsi Center anytime soon. So, beyond a 2020 first-round pick and unloading the expiring contracts of Juancho Hernangomez and Malik Beasley, what did Denver really gain from all this?
An early analysis of the Nuggets newcomers for the player most likely to make an immediate impact results in two possible frontrunners: Minnesota Timberwolves forward Keita Bates-Diop or Wizards guard Jordan McRae.
An unfortunate injury bug has crawled into Denver’s frontcourt with big men Paul Millsap (knee) and Mason Plumlee (foot) on the mend, plus wing Michael Porter
Jr. day-to-day with an ankle issue. The Nuggets need help. Bates-Diop’s resume suggests he can help.
The 2018 second-round NBA draft pick isn’t a flashy addition, but he’s shooting 33% behind the arc this year — better than Gary Harris and Jamal Murray. And Bates-Diop’s length at 6-foot-8 and 229 pounds gives Denver a rangy defender capable of absorbing minutes without Millsap and Plumlee on the floor.
Bates-Diop might be a secondyear pro, but he appeared in 109 career games over four college seasons at Ohio State. He has played against elite competition on big-time stages. His biggest opportunity is now.
McRae could have a similar opening on the wing. Already in the midst of a career season, shooting 38% from 3-point range with averages of 12.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 29 games with the Wizards, the Tennessee product could provide an offensive spark off the Nuggets bench vacated by Beasley. And if Harris’ shooting woes continue, that opportunity could grow even more.
Call it a glass-half-full take if you’d like (and you might be correct), but the development of Bates-Diop or emergence of McRae could be a surprise silver lining in Denver’s roster shuffle.
Denver Post deputy sports editor Matt Schubert contributed to this report.