Nuggets Roundtable: How can RJ Hampton earn minutes as a rookie?

The Nuggets traded back into the first round to select guard RJ Hampton 24th overall Wednesday night. Here’s what the DNVR Nuggets crew thinks of the pick.

Grade the pick

Wind: I thought the Nuggets might take RJ Hampton at 22, so you can imagine how excited I was when Denver traded back into the first round to nab arguably the most athletic player in the draft. But the Nuggets paid a price. Denver surrendered a lottery protected 2023 first-round pick to select Hampton. It’s not a debilitating price to pay, but I hate taking future first-round selections away from a draft master like Tim Connelly. The pick is also one future asset that Denver won’t have to dangle in a trade discussion if another Jrue Holiday-type becomes available. Hampton has real talent. If he pans out the trade will be worth it, but I’m giving this a B+.

Mares: Given the way that the first round unfolded, I thought RJ Hampton was the best available prospect for the Denver Nuggets. He may have star potential and will land in a spot that won’t place pressure on him to become one if it turns out he is merely a role player. He has the size, speed, and skillset to provide the Nuggets with a completely different look than what they have from their core players. His speed against an open painted area and alongside Nikola Jokic should be a phenomenal combination. I’m nearly as excited for this pick as I would’ve been for any player taken at 22 or later. A+

Vogt: It’s hard to make a sexy play when trading for the 24th pick in a draft lacking top-end talent, but Denver made a splash by drafting RJ Hampton. Had he played well at a major program in the United States, he may have never dropped that far, but he didn’t. Questions about how he stacks up against the best, how committed he’ll be on the defensive end, and how much he can improve as a shooter allowed him to slide. Still, he has one of the highest ceilings in the draft. Sure, Denver gave up a protected first to get him, but they’ve added more talent into the pipeline, and that pick is recoupable via the next consolidation trade. A-

What aspect of Hampton’s game are you most excited about?

Wind: The Nuggets have never had a guard in the Jokic era with Hampton’s quickness. He’s not a polished player by any means, but Hampton’s lightning-quick first step will allow him to get into the teeth of the defense and create elite shots for teammates against a collapsing defense. Hampton’s quick-twitch athleticism could also translate into him being an elite cutter and lob threat for Nikola Jokic. If Hampton develops his jumper, he’ll be an incredibly dangerous offensive player.

Mares: It has to be his speed. If he can develop his jump shot enough to keep the defense honest, Hampton should make a killing off of backdoor cuts and dribble handoffs. His speed is already an elite weapon against hard closeouts and in the open court.

Allow me to paint a picture for you. Imagine a Jamal Murray – Nikola Jokic pick-and-roll on the right wing that winds up with Murray tossing the ball to Jokic at the free throw line on the short roll. Jokic turns to dribble over to the left side for a dribble handoff with Hampton who immediately cuts backdoor, beating his man so hard that he drags Michael Porter’s defender along with him. Porter then shoots up from the left corner to receive the handoff against a scrambled defense that has been forced to rotate thanks to Hamptons cut.  Regardless of what happens next, the Nuggets have won the possession. All it took was four players doing the things they are designed to do. Hampton provides that speedy quick element that Jokic’s Nuggets have never had.

Vogt: The Nuggets are skilled, suddenly well-sized, and loaded with talent, but they lack premier athleticism. Hampton will walk into NBA gyms as one of the most athletic people on the floor from day one. Before I even wonder about the fit and the swing factors in his development, I find satisfaction in the pick, if only because it’s fun. We’re in the era of the hyper-intelligent sports fan. We’re all armchair GMs armed with more public data and access to games than ever before. Sometimes there’s value in pulling yourself out from the weeds a little, taking a step back, and just enjoying the show. Hampton’s athleticism is going to pop — from his first-step to his top end speed to his flashy dunks.

How can Hampton earn minutes as a rookie?

Wind: Based on the prospects who have come up through Denver’s development program like Torrey Craig, Monte Morris and PJ Dozier and gone on to earn rotation minutes, Hampton is with the right situation to hone his skills. The Nuggets don’t need him to contribute right away either. But Hampton’s also now playing for a coach in Michael Malone who’s not going to let rookie mistakes slide and won’t stand for lackadaisical defense which Hampton has been prone to at times throughout his career. I’d think Hampton is likely headed for somewhat of a red shirt season where he could float back and forth between the G League. It’s doubtful he’ll earn minutes this season, but if he does it will be because he’s a committed defender.

Mares: I don’t think that he can. He may get an opportunity to showcase himself here and there in garbage time or in the event of an injury to one or more key guards, but Hampton will likely have to follow in the footsteps of Monte Morris, Torrey Craig, Porter Jr., and Bol Bol and accept a rookie season that feels more like a redshirt season. The payoff is that he should have an excellent opportunity to develop into a more foundationally sound prospect and hit the ground running in 2022.

Vogt: Unfortunately, I don’t think we see much of RJ if all goes to plan. Barring catastrophic injury luck, the Nuggets have too many guys ahead of him on the depth chart. Tim Connelly described both of these picks as long-term plays, and there’s no indication anyone is eager to rush him out there. Of course, we should also factor in his new head coach, Michael Malone, who is less than enthused about blue-chip prospects that aren’t too interested in defense. Patience is a virtue.