BSN Nuggets weekend mailbag: Rookie outlooks, Wilson Chandler's impact, trade chatter and more

This weekend’s mailbag hits on a number of subjects including how playing time will be distributed among Denver’s rookies, Wilson Chandler, the Nuggets frontcourt, and as always trade talk. Remember, submit your questions to me during the week on Twitter @NBAWind or @BSNNuggets.

Which rookie between Juancho Hernangomez and Malik Beasley will have most minutes per game by seasons end considering they’re still playing for playoffs? – @taybobhunt

For me, it’s Hernangomez, and I don’t think it will be close. Based on what I’ve heard from the Nuggets about Beasley, they really like his upside, skill-set, measurables, and so on, but he’s a long ways away and I think we’ve seen that this preseason. His ball handling has looked spotty and he doesn’t have a ton of confidence with the ball in his hands right now, which is fine for a 19-year-old rookie that the Nuggets don’t need to play much this season. Hernangomez has also looked shaky in increased minutes this preseason but has flashed more to me that shows he could play this year if Denver needs him to. Also, simply playing Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic together opens up more minutes at the four which could fall to Hernangomez especially when injuries hit the frontcourt like we’ve already seen with Darrell Arthur this preseason.

Are a lot of people underestimating Wilson Chandler’s return when making a Nuggets prediction this year? – @SinclairSet

I’ve been extremely vocal this offseason and preseason that Chandler’s return is going to make Denver a much better team. He can guard four positions, do a little bit of everything on the offensive end, is one of their most experienced players on the roster, and likely adds a win or two to their total. Chandler is like a piece of Play-Doh; you can mold him into any lineup and play him with anyone on the Nuggets roster. He certainly makes Denver a better team overall but isn’t someone who’s going to add five or more wins by himself. The projections I’ve seen for Denver this year seem pretty spot on to me. Somewhere from the high 30’s to low 40’s is achievable with a healthy Chandler this season.

What are the chances that Michael Malone switches Nurkic and Arthur in and out of the starting lineup depending on who Denver’s playing? – @alecgwin

Not likely. Malone has said Denver isn’t going to be reactionary this season, meaning they won’t change their starting five based on who their opposition is. They’ll start the season with the twin towers look and go from there. Now, there’s certainly a possibility that the Nuggets start the season with the Balkan frontcourt, get exploited out of the gate and go back to a Faried-Jokic or Arthur-Jokic look and run with one of those pairings for a number of games. But I don’t envision Malone alternating his frontcourt game in and game out based on the opponent.

Which trade would you like to see happen for the Nuggets if theoretically they had to make one in November? Iman Shumpert for Jameer Nelson? – @tracysmith_89

I don’t see why Denver would be attracted to Shumpert with Gary Harris, Jamal Murray and Will Barton at the two and someone like Chandler in tow who could play anywhere on the wing. I think you’re on the right track though when it comes to Nelson as someone who could be moved. He’s not likely to see a ton of time on the court unless injuries hit with Mudiay and Murray at the one, and he’s a guy from talking to him last year who clearly still wants to play and feels like he can contribute. I’d prefer the Nuggets move on from Nelson and keep Nate Wolters as their third point guard who they waived Friday.

Are the Nuggets really trying to trade Kenneth Faried? – @ShigemiSporty

From the reports that have surfaced over the past two years, it’s hard to refute that, but I’d be surprised if he gets moved right now. There’s not many things general manager Tim Connelly values more than continuity and I don’t think he likes the prospects of making that significant of a change at the onset of the regular season. Granted, his status with Denver long term, like others on the roster, depends on how this season progresses for the Nuggets. If Denver gets off the a rocky start and trade deadline creeps closer with the Nuggets already out of the playoff race, I’d imagine Connelly’s line of thinking shifts from where it’s at right now.