Denver Nuggets' draft picks see heavy minutes through two games at Las Vegas Summer League

LAS VEGAS — Summer League is the first chance we get every year to see the rookies drafted in June play in an NBA context with their new team.

It’s thrilling on several levels: For one, the lottery selections have been studied, judged, debated, and picked apart since the NCAA Tournament came to a close and finally get to prove their worth on the court. Secondly, fans are drawn in by the gravitational pull of something shiny and new. In a star-driven league, Summer League gives us a glimpse at the next potential stars. Some are expected, such as when LeBron James burned hotter than the Las Vegas sun in 2003, while others surprise and titillate fans who realize their general manager found an undervalued stud a month earlier. Think Myles Turner in 2015.

Denver drafted four players in June’s draft – three first-rounders and a high-upside Frenchman, Petr Cornelie in the second. Three of the four started Saturday night and received plentiful minutes in what became a 106-62 beatdown of the Memphis Grizzlies. Emmanuel Mudiay and Gary Harris showed they were overqualified for Summer League during a second-half comeback Friday night against Minnesota and wisely, the coaching staff made the pair healthy scratches. From the bench, they led the cheers for rookies Jamal Murray, Hernangomez, and Cornelie.

Here’s a quick recap of how the rookies looked in the win versus Memphis and through two games in Las Vegas.

Jamal Murray

The Nuggets’ 2016 Lottery pick had some nice moments in the second half against the Timberwolves and struggled again Saturday, with his shot and finishing at the rim, and a spectator next to me remarked how surprisingly small Murray looked on the court. His lack of height for a two guard was one of the few knocks on Murray heading into the draft and though he’s tremendously crafty off the dribble, defenders have disrupted him at the rim so far. As he adjusts to the NBA game, I’m fully confident he’ll weather the bumps in the road, particularly once his long-range shot starts falling. Murray has fundamentally sound, consistent form when he raises up from three, but he drew front iron often over the weekend and went just 1-7 from three in the Nuggets first two outings in Vegas. This is where we point out he’s just 19 years old. Despite the scoring struggles, he has shown a devastating handle in traffic and a creator gene, setting up teammates for easy buckets and registering six total assists through two games. Murray belongs at this level and will only get better.

Juancho Hernangomez

He’s skinny, gets pushed around in the post and looked deer-in-the-headlights-ish Friday night. Hernangomez definitely needs another year overseas, yet the Nuggets have no buyer’s remorse with their 15th overall pick. From a skill perspective, he’s got it all: A sweet jumper, uncommon handles for a four, nifty passing, quick perimeter defense and a knack for sniffing out offensive rebounds. He’s gotten the starting power forward nod in each of the first two contests this summer and played the entire first quarter Friday. Coach Micah Nori is making sure the Nuggets get a long, hard look at Hernangomez, and perhaps most encouragingly, he’s collected four offensive boards and gotten to the line with ease. With some work on his body and interior defense, it’s in play that Hernangomez becomes the Nuggets four-man of the future. General manager Tim Connelly saw that potential in him on draft night and it’s looking like a prescient pick, albeit at a very early stage.

Petr Cornelie

Saturday was an amazing night for Cornelie and the 53rd pick in June’s draft who just may be Connelly’s next second-round steal. Like Hernangomez, he needs to add heft and defensive awareness in the paint but he was all over the place on the offensive end with 19 points on 7-11 shooting and four offensive rebounds Saturday against Memphis. Much of his damage was done at the rim but he did knock down a three, raising up from the corner with no hesitation. Cornelie is 6-foot-11 mind you, and being able to knock down threes from the corner is quite a harbinger of his potential NBA value. He will be stashed for now, but I won’t be surprised to see him in a Nuggets uniform full time in the next two years.

***Malik Beasley, Denver’s pick at No. 19 in June, is sitting out after reportedly making a full recovery from surgery to fix a stress fracture in his leg. He’s fully recovered and healthy, but the Nuggets are being cautious bringing him along. With Murray and Harris ahead of him on the depth chart, as well as combo wing Will Barton, the Nuggets can afford to take their time with Beasley.

***Undrafted rookie Josh Adams (Wyoming) had seven points on 3-6 shooting in 13 minutes Saturday.