Nuggets Film Room: Is DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell the next Torrey Craig?

It was impossible not to notice DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell, dreadlocks flowing off his powerful 6-foot-5 frame, as he raced downcourt at Summer League. The undrafted 25-year-old who played last season in Denmark entered the Las Vegas showcase as a relatively unknown commodity. Nuggets executives spoke highly of the 6-foot-5 wing in the lead-up to Summer League but he was still a mystery to many.

After a quiet Las Vegas debut, Akoon-Purcell poured in 19-points and added three steals against the Celtics. Around 48 hours later he tallied 18 points and recorded three more steals against the Bucks. After Denver’s fourth Summer League game, the Nuggets shut Akoon-Purcell down. They had seen enough.

Akoon-Purcell signed a two-way contract with Denver that became official Tuesday morning. Under the parameters of his deal, Akoon-Purcell can spend up to 45 days with the Nuggets next year. The rest of his season will be spent in the G League.

Here’s what Akoon-Purcell brings to the table and if he’ll be able to help the Nuggets next year.

Defensive energy and intensity

Last summer, Torrey Craig came into Summer League with little fanfare. Like Akoon-Purcell, Nuggets executives were excited about his skill-set but weren’t sure how he’d perform. Craig ended up being the story of Denver’s 2017 Summer League thanks to his memorable 27-point outing but also because of his play on the defensive end of the floor and the energy he brought on a possession-by-possession basis. He was later signed to a two-way contract and played in 39 games for the Nuggets last season.

Like Craig, Akoon-Purcell earned his contract in part because of his ability to shoot the ball from three and score effectively versus that level of competition. But also because of the same defensive intangibles and manic energy that earned Craig his deal last year.

Akoon-Purcell is the type of defender coaches love. When he’s on the ball, he’s always up and into his opponent. He rarely gives his man any airspace and regularly presses up into the chest of whomever he’s guarding. Akoon-Purcell won’t die on screens and regularly brings the type of defensive intensity to the floor that you commonly associate with the league’s top defenders.

He was also rewarded for his on-ball defense. Akoon-Purcell recorded eight steals across four games at Summer League. In two of his outings, he tallied three steals. He wasn’t only in the right place at the right time but also showed the ability to anticipate passes on the perimeter.

In Las Vegas, Akoon-Purcell picked off passes like a free safety before pushing the ball the other way.

Three-point prowess

Akoon-Purcell shot in the low-to-mid-30’s from three in Denmark last season but hit six of his 12 three-point attempts in Summer League play. Some of his threes were tightly contested too. It’s a small sample size but Akoon-Purcell showed that he could be an effective shooter when closely guarded.

He also converted from well beyond the three-point line.

Is Akoon-Purcell a future 50 percent three-point shooter or an elite mid-40’s threat from distance? Probably not. He shot 43 percent from three across 53 games in 2016-17 in Denmark but his three-point percentage dipped to around 32 percent last season.

Still, Akoon-Purcell could eventually round into a reliable jump-shooter as a mid-to-high-30’s three-point threat.

Overflow

Here’s what else stands out about Akoon-Purcell.

He’s an extremely shifty wing who excels in transition. Whether he’s barrelling down the floor off a steal or just running the fastbreak, Akoon-Purcell is always looking to get to the basket. That aggressive nature and attacking mindset is his calling card.

If Akoon-Purcell isn’t launching from three, he’s trying to get the basket. When in attack mode, he’s effective when he can get downhill on straight line drives to the hoop.

Akoon-Purcell can get out of control at times, but for the most part, he makes the right play whether he’s in transition or operating in the halfcourt.

While playing with Denver this summer, Akoon-Purcell surrendered most of the Nuggets’ playmaking duties to their two primary point guards, Monte Morris and Scott Machado. Malik Beasley also played with the ball in his hands a lot for Denver in Las Vegas.

But in Denmark over the past two seasons, Akoon-Purcell was his club’s primary offensive option. He might have a bit more playmaking ability in his arsenal than he showed at Summer League.

Final Verdict

From going undrafted out of college to playing overseas for a few years before arriving in Denver for Summer League, Craig and Akoon-Purcell’s roads to the NBA are synonymous with one another. Desperate for defensive stoppers last season, the Nuggets called upon Craig’s services often. He logged minutes in countless high-stakes possessions and parlayed his play last season into a two-year, $4 million contract this summer.

Akoon-Purcell’s frame is a bit smaller than Craig’s but his skill-set is similar. As a strong-bodied, NBA-level athlete who played against professionals overseas for the past two seasons, Akoon-Purcell will likely post strong numbers in the G League next year, as Craig did last season. He’ll also need to prove to the Nuggets that he can play with the same spirit he showed at Summer League and keep the defense honest from three-point range.

Whether or not Akoon-Purcell will eventually have an impact like Craig did with the Nuggets last season will be situational. Craig was able to capitalize on an opportunity and a unique situation on a playoff-caliber team that was desperate for a defensive-first wing who could scrap, claw and do the dirty work. As the Nuggets’ roster currently stands, it’s hard imagining those same opportunities will be there for Akoon-Purcell this year.

It will be difficult for Akoon-Purcell to have a similar type of impact to the one Craig did a year ago but the game-changing energy he brings when he steps on the floor, his defensive intensity and aggressive nature on both offense and defense are all valued NBA skills and intangibles that most organization would welcome into their program with open arms.