Nuggets fill second two-way contract

The Nuggets are putting the finishing touches on their roster for next season with training camp around seven weeks away. Denver will sign Summer League standout DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell to a two-way contract, a league source confirmed to BSN Denver Monday afternoon.

Altitude Sports’ Christopher Dempsey first reported Akoon-Purcell’s impending contract.

The two-way contract will allow the 6-foot-5 wing to spend 45 days with the Nuggets next season. The rest of his season will be spent in the G League. Because the Nuggets don’t have a G League team, Denver will assign the 6-foot-5 wing to another organization’s affiliate.

Last season, the Nuggets assigned their two two-way players — Torrey Craig and Monte Morris — to the Sioux Falls Skyforce, who are owned by the Miami Heat, and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, who are operated by the Houston Rockets respectively.

After going undrafted in 2016, the Illinois State product found a home in Denmark. Akoon-Purcell averaged 18.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game for the Bakken Bears last season. He impressed at Summer League for the Nuggets this past July where Akoon-Purcell averaged 12.0 points across four games in Las Vegas. Akoon-Purcell also showed the ability to shoot the ball from three and converted on six of his 12 three-point attempts throughout the showcase.

An energetic and instinctual player, Akoon-Purcell thrives in chaos and excels in the open floor. He’s a terror in transition with an NBA-level body and plus-athleticism. If he’s going to find a role at the next level, it will be because of what he’ll be able to provide teams on the defensive end of the floor. Over the summer months, Akoon-Purcell has quickly developed a reputation in Denver as a hard worker.

“DeVaughn sometimes scares both coaches. He’s been really good for us. He can handle (the ball) in the second side, and defensively he’s awesome,” Nuggets Summer League coach Jordi Fernandez said at Summer League. “I don’t know if you guys remember, but he made a big mistake and had a turnover. He ran back and got it back. Those effort plays — it could be a four-point swing, and you end up scoring. Those are huge.”

The Nuggets also agreed to a contract with Emanuel Terry, a league source told to BSN Denver. The Nuggets’ roster is full at 17 players (15 guaranteed contracts and two two-way deals) so Terry’s chances of making the team are slim unless a move gets made to free a roster spot, but Denver will get another look at the 6-foot-9 big man who also played well for them at Summer League.

Terry went undrafted in 2018 out of Division II Lincoln Memorial University but showed off NBA-level athleticism in Las Vegas. He averaged 7.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game at Summer League. A lightly-recruited forward out of Birmingham, Alabama, Terry was the first player from Lincoln Memorial to play at Summer League.

His energy and burst are reminiscent of former Nugget Kenneth Faried. Terry could find a home somewhere in the G League or play abroad next season.