Denver Stiffs - 2017 Denver Nuggets Media Day Stream

Watch: Trey Lyles looks forward to a fresh start with the Denver Nuggets

2017-09-30T17:05:48-06:00

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Chad Andrus talks with Trey Lyles

I’m pretty excited about Trey Lyles.

When the Denver Nuggets made the draft night trade that sent Donovan Mitchell to Utah for Lyles and the draft pick that would become Tyler Lydon, many fans (myself included) wondered what the end-game was. Denver already had a plethora of power forwards and it was well known that the team was in pursuit of Kevin Love via trade and ultimately Paul Millsap in free agency. With Kenneth Faried and Darrell Arthur already on the roster, adding two more power forwards seemed odd, to say the least. But lost in all of that was the fact that Trey Lyles was a heck of a prospect a season ago.

Lyles entered the NBA as a very unique player with a ton of upside thanks to his height - 6’ 10” - and his versatile skill set. He had a pretty smooth looking shot, he could put the ball on the floor, he could pass. He was like Danilo Gallinari in that he had power forward size with wing skills, a seemingly perfect combination for today’s NBA.

Then, following his rookie season summer league happened, and Lyles appeared to take a huge step back. He followed that up with a clunky start to his sophomore season and soon, the Utah Jazz had replaced him in the lineup with more specialized options at the four spot. Just like that, Lyles’ stock began to plummet.

Enter Denver. A team loaded with international talent that is built on unconventional and unique player skill sets. Lyles remains a high ceiling, low floor prospect but at just 21 years of age (he’s younger than Juancho Hernangomez), Lyles has time to figure it all out.

I enjoyed talking with Lyles at media day. He seems to have a very easy-going personality about him. As is the case with so many of the guys on the roster, Lyles seems to be a good fit on and off the court as the team looks to build a highly skilled, high-character roster. Check out his interview with Chad Andrus below and get excited for his fresh start here with the Nuggets.

Torrey Craig says there was once a kangaroo fight in his neighborhood

2017-09-27T14:24:39-06:00

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Australians drink out of their shoes

Okay, I will admit it. I love Torrey Craig.

I liked him at summer league where I thought he was the most impressive guy on the floor most games and I like the way he (theoretically) fits next to great passing bigs like Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap. In summer league, Craig flew around the court making all of the hustle plays in transition and on the defensive end and found spots to be aggressive without stepping outside of his lane on the offensive end. He impressed me, and I look forward to pulling for him as he bounces back and forth between the G-league and the Denver Nuggets.

Monday’s media day was my first chance to sit down and talk with Craig and he made for a great interview. Among the many interesting takeaways rom our chat was the fact that Australians drink beer out of their shoe. Apparently it’s called a “shoey” and somehow this is not surprising at all. I asked Craig what weird “Australia” things happened to him thinking maybe he’d have a small story or two but he dropped a shoey story on me and then talked about how Kangaroos once got in a fight in the neighborhood that he lives in.

There’s no better content than this. I am here for Torrey Craig being the surprise player this training camp and I only hope after the Nuggets make the playoffs he shows the team how to drink a shoey.

Watch: Kenneth Faried didn’t pull punches on media day

2017-09-26T01:27:59-06:00

“I am not a bench player.”

Kenneth Faried was the last one to come out onto the practice court and address the media yesterday at Pepsi Center for the Denver Nuggets media day, arriving some 15 minutes after everyone else had left the court. In the most literal sense, when he sat before the cameras he had everyone’s attention. He didn’t let that spotlight go to waste.

In a series of interviews, one with the media as a whole and another with our own Chad Andrus, Faried laid out his perspective coming into the season and let’s just say that he doesn’t seem to be as excited or content as everyone else on the roster. Over the course of about 15 minutes he dished on everything from his belief that he is a starting caliber player to the chip on his shoulder that he is carrying into the season. He even contrasted George Karl’s coaching style to Michael Malone’s in what could be taken as a dig at the team’s current coach.

It is clear from this interview that Faried is not happy but he was also adamant that every time he steps on the court this season he will be giving it his all. Whatever issues he has with the organization, coaching staff, fanbase (yes, he mentions them too), and role, he made it crystal clear that he will not be quitting on the team when the lights are on. Still, it appears that Faried’s discontent will be a storyline throughout training camp and possibly linger into the regular season and beyond.

Watch: Denver Stiffs exclusive one-on-one interview with Nikola Jokic

2017-09-25T22:59:32-06:00

Chad Andrus and Nikola Jokic

Joker explains why he already hates Paul Millsap

Chad Andrus sat down with Nikola Jokic for an exclusive one-on-one interview to talk about his offseason workouts, his tighty-whitey “professor,” and the blowback he received from his countrymen after deciding to take this summer off from playing for the Serbian national team. Jokic is such an interesting guy. He’s always so light-hearted and playful in these types of interviews yet can flip the switch and go remarkably introspective.

Here he goes in-depth with Andrus about why he decided to take the summer off and what it was like receiving hate mail (and even death threats) from his own countrymen. He also talks about his relationship with Paul Millsap and shares why he already hates him.

Chris Haynes: Nuggets and Will Barton in discussions on contract extension

2017-09-25T18:45:16-06:00

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The Nuggets sixth man is looking for a new contract, and the Nuggets are listening.

According to Chris Haynes of ESPN, the Denver Nuggets and Will Barton are engaged in talks regarding a contract extension.

Will Barton and Denver are in discussions on a contract extension, league sources tell ESPN. Deadline of Oct. 16 looms.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) September 26, 2017

Barton has been an integral part of the Nuggets rotation for the last two and a half years. Acquired in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers at the trade deadline during the 2014-15 season, the 6’5 wing averaged 13.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in primarily a bench role last year. He averaged a career high 37.0% from behind the 3-point line, and in his age-26 season, he showed his value as a creator outside the pressures of the Nikola Jokic-led offense.

Correction: June 30 is the deadline. https://t.co/43STXXquS9
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) September 26, 2017

The Nuggets have the entirety of the 2017-18 season to negotiate this extension with Barton, and it’s interesting that the news is coming out today. Haynes is one of the reporters most well connected to Barton in today’s NBA, and because of how long the two sides have to talk, it validates this report even more. The Nuggets have two incredibly important players in Nikola Jokic and Gary Harris that also need extensions though, so it’s even more curious that extension talks with Barton are coming out.

Here are some contract extensions signed in previous years by bench/fringe starter wing players like Barton:

2015 extensions/free agent signings

Terrence Ross - 3 years, $33 million
Danny Green - 4 years, $45 million
Monta Ellis - 4 years, $44 million

2016 extensions/free agent signings

Jordan Clarkson - 4 years, $50 million
Evan Turner - 4 years, $70 million
E’Twaun Moore - 4 years, $34 million
Austin Rivers - 3 years, $35 million
Eric Gordon - 4 years, $53 million

2017 extensions/free agent signings

Josh Richardson - 4 years, $42 million
Dion Waiters - 4 years, $52 million
Tim Hardaway Jr. - 4 years, $71 million
Tony Snell - 4 years, $46 million
Andre Iguodala - 3 years, $48 million
C.J. Miles - 3 years, $25 million
P.J. Tucker - 4 years, $32 million

These are just a few of the contracts signed in the last few years. Barton will likely be expecting a contract of over $50 million over four years. The Nuggets will be doing everything they can to keep room free for extensions for Jokic and Harris, so they may try and push the number down.

Whatever happens, it’s clear that the Nuggets want Will Barton back.

DA and Juancho may be limited to start training camp

2017-09-25T18:37:47-06:00

Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

The Nuggets roster is almost a full go for training camp...almost

Media day is always full of interesting tidbits but unfortunately for the second year in a row one of those tidbits was regarding Darrell Arthur’s health or lack thereof. Last season we found out that he wouldn’t be ready to start the season due to arthoscopic knee surgery late in the offseason. This season the prognosis is not as bad, but coach Michael Malone did note some limitations, stating

We’ll keep an eye on (Arthur), you know, he’ll be able to go through the first practice, we may limit him some in the second practice and that’s where I’ll lean on (Director of Sports Medicine) Steve Short and his staff in terms of what is best for Darrell Arthur long term

Tim Connelly, president of basketball operations, noted that “the challenge with (Arthur) is always going to be health” but also indicated that a lot of what Arthur brings to the table is found off the court as a leader in the locker room. Coach Malone expounded on those comments, stating:

to Tim’s point, can he stay healthy? That’s the biggest question mark. You know what you’re getting with (Arthur), he comes to work every day, he’s a pro...I challenged him last year to be more vocal and be a leader and he was one of the best leaders on our team.

Arthur being limited is not much of a surprise. After his knee required surgery just before the start of last year and recurring issues limited him to half a season, he sought out special treatment outside the United States. He visited Germany to undergo Regenokine treatment on his knee, a procedure that requires the heating of blood which makes it barred by the FDA here in the states. Given the recurring issues with his knee it’s only natural for Denver to monitor him closely.

The more surprising news to hear was that second year forward Juancho Hernangomez may also be limited in training camp. However, coach was quick to note that Juancho’s limitations are not related to injury, but rather the workload the young player has been under in the past few months. Coach stated:

He had a very taxing offseason with his Summer League play with us and then going right to Spain and helping them win the bronze medal in the Eurobasket and he just finished like last week. So, we want to make sure we’re not overloading him because that’s a lot mentally and physically on a young player.

The Denver Nuggets have certainly been on the progressive side of things in terms of player health and monitoring their body metrics so this shouldn’t be much of a surprise. Last year it was Nikola Jokic who played non stop through the offseason and then went right into the NBA season. There were times when Jokic’s exhaustion was noticeable and it led to him making a very difficult decision to forego Eurobasket this season in favor of rest and improving his conditioning so it makes sense for the Nuggets to take a cautious approach this season with another one of their young players under similar circumstances.

Watch: Malik Beasley says “you’re going to see us in the playoffs this year.”

2017-09-25T17:55:12-06:00

Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images

Chad Andrus interviews Malik Beasley in a Denver Stiffs Exclusive

Our good friend Chad Andrus sat down with Malik Beasley for an exclusive interview in which the second year shooting guard reflects on his summer, talks about Gary Harris as a role model, and tells fans that the Denver Nuggets will make the playoffs this year. The coaching staff and front office rave about Beasley’s work ethic and upside. Last season as a rookie he was buried behind Gary Harris and Will Barton on the depth chart but is aiming to break into the rotation as a combo guard/forward.

Beasley is among the most athletic players on the roster and has a great shot and tireless motor, all ingredients for an excellent open court wing. Playing time will still be tough to come by but Beasley is hoping that a productive summer will vault him into the rotation. It’s possible that the Nuggets will try him out more at small forward, where the Nuggets are a bit thin. Where Beasley fits on the roster is one of the big questions for the Nuggets heading into training camp.

Locked On Nuggets: Media Day takeaways

2017-09-25T15:55:38-06:00

Locked On Nuggets podcast

In this episode of the Locked On Nuggets podcast, I am joined by Zach Mikash, Denver Stiffs debupty editor and host of the Pickaxe Podcast. I am also joined by Chad Andrus, former play by play caller and radio show host. The three of us discuss what we took away form Denver Nuggets media day and what comments and observations really stood out.