Jamal Murray shot his way to the Rocky Mountains. How does he fit on the Denver Nuggets?
The Player: Jamal Murray scored over 23 points per game at Kentucky last season, despite being one of three point guards in the starting lineup. He is an elite shooter, excelling at pulling up with the ball and at catching the ball coming off of screens. That will allow him to flourish in the NBA as either a point guard or shooting guard. His defense is an issue, as it’s unlikely he will ever be elite at that end of the floor.
The Fit: The Denver Nuggets have two recent first-round picks in their backcourt, with Emmanuel Mudiay alongside Gary Harris. But Harris’ upside is nowhere near as high as Murray’s, and could cede his starting spot to the Kentucky guard. Murray could also backup Mudiay as a super-sub scorer – he and Will Barton could knock opposing bench units flat. That also gives the Nuggets insurance in case Mudiay doesn’t pan out, or the ability to trade one of their guards to add talent elsewhere. The fit isn’t perfect, but the value is tremendous.
The Spot: Backup combo guard
The Grade: B+
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