Denver Nuggets final report card: Joffrey Lauvergne

 

Over the next few weeks, the BSN Nuggets staff will review the Nuggets season, player-by-player. We’ll look at their performance from 2015-16 and forecast what type of impact they’ll make next season.

Reflecting on 2015-16

With all of the fanfare surrounding Nikola Jokic‘s statistically outstanding rookie campaign and Jusuf Nurkic‘s return to form after a tumultuous season that began recovering from knee surgery, it’s easy to overlook the steady contributions of the “other” young big man on the Denver Nuggets roster.

Lauvergne doesn’t have the all-around game of Jokic or the imposing presence of Nurkic in the paint, but there’s no doubt that Lauvergne has overachieved as a former second-round pick out of France that just completed his first full season in the NBA.

The 24-year-old finished second on the team in field goal percentage at 51.3 percent, made 62 of his 69 free throw attempts leaving him just under 90 percent from the charity stripe and while he shot just 24.5 percent from the 3-point line, it’s not a stretch to believe that he could develop into an efficient 3-point shooter with an increase in reps.

Lauvergne also shot a blistering 59.1 percent on jumpers 15-19 feet, but as he got closer to the hoop, his jumper got worse.

Besides his ability to semi-stretch the floor, Lauvergne brought a blue collar work ethic and played solid, but unspectacular, defense in the paint. He also gobbled up rebounds when the other Nuggets bigs were forced to the bench due to injury and at least looked like he was playing hard when he was out there.

Nothing sums up Lauvergne’s bruising mentality more than the fact that he only missed one game after the All-Star break despite dealing with a fractured sinus wall.

Here’s a good look at Joffrey Lauvergne‘s eye injury (sinus fracture). #Nuggets pic.twitter.com/WJSPt0Zdjv

— Nate Timmons (@PickaxeNRoll) March 15, 2016

 

It’s very telling that Nuggets head coach Michael Malone gave Lauvergne such consistent playing time down the stretch of the season when he was resting other players and playing around with different frontcourt combinations.

He won’t ever be an All-Star, but Lauvergne’s solid, unselfish play is something most teams and coaches covet on their roster.

Lauvergne sat on the bench for thirteen consecutive games early in the season and drew nine more DNPs before the All-Star break, but got straight to work whenever his number was called and that is certainly something to be admired.

There is a chance that the frontcourt in Denver will look different next season. There aren’t enough minutes for Kenneth Faried, Darrell Arthur, Jokic, Nurkic and Lauvergne, especially with Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler expected to slide to the four at times.

With Lauvergne, you know what you’re getting, which I’m sure is comforting to some, including Malone, who’s surely one of the biggest advocates out there for keeping Lauvergne in Denver next year.

Final Report Card Grade: B-

Looking Ahead to 2016-17

There are a number of reasons you should expect to see Lauvergne in the powder blue next season.

His team-friendly (non-guaranteed) salary comes in at just $1.7 million in his second full season in the league, but it’s difficult to forecast right now if you could find a free agent that brings better production as the fourth or fifth big for less money. Lauvergne’s salary becomes fully guaranteed if he’s on the opening night roster next season.Lauvergne’s versatility is another factor that has likely earned him a place in the Nuggets’ rotation for the foreseeable future. Whether it was filling in at center, while Faried or Arthur manned the four, or taking over at power forward alongside Jokic or Nurkic, Lauvergne was able to fill in and be productive.

Lauvergne’s versatility is another factor that has likely earned him a place on the Nuggets roster next season. Whether it was filling in at center, while Faried or Arthur manned the four, or taking over at power forward alongside Jokic or Nurkic, Lauvergne was able to step up and be productive.

There were a number of times, especially while Nurkic was sidelined with his various injuries, that Lauvergne was the only Nuggets big man with the strength to stop opposing teams centers. He banged with 7-footers, fought for rebounds and played a lot of five considering how undersized he is for the position.

Lauvergne has earned his place on the Nuggets roster, and his affordability means that whether Denver moves on from one of their big men, the Frenchman is likely to be back to provide depth and flexibility next season.

It’s difficult to pinpoint one thing Lauvergne really excels at, but he brings effort, which Malone admittingly said the Nuggets lacked at times last season. Denver may look to upgrade their backup bigs through the draft or free agency, but if they stand pat, Lauvergne will be here to serve his purpose off the bench.