Nuggets star-studded Summer League roster beginning to take shape

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The NBA Finals ended just 10 days ago but more basketball is right around the corner.

The Las Vegas Summer League is on the horizon and Denver’s first game in the desert is July 5 when the Nuggets take on the Phoenix Suns. Teams play four games each before a tournament featuring the top eight teams from the first week of the competition decides the Summer League champion. The teams who don’t qualify for the tournament each play a consolation game.

The Nuggets’ first four games of Summer League are below:

Friday, July 5 vs. Phoenix at Thomas & Mack Center (11:30 EST, ESPN)
Sunday, July 7 vs. Orlando at Cox Pavilion (6:00 pm EST, NBA TV)
Tuesday, July 9 vs. Boston at Thomas & Mack Center (8:00 pm EST, ESPN 2)
Wednesday, July 10 vs. Golden State at Thomas & Mack Center (11:30 EST, ESPN U)

Denver’s Summer League roster is loaded. The Nuggets could roll out a starting lineup featuring Brandon Goodwin and Terence Davis, the high-flying two-guard out of Mississippi in the backcourt and Michael Porter Jr., Jarred Vanderbilt, and Thomas Welsh at the three frontcourt spots.

Here’s a rundown on everyone that’s announced that they’re playing with the Nuggets in Las Vegas.

Michael Porter Jr.

Forward | 6-foot-10 | 20-years-old | Summer League role: No. 1 option

He’ll be one of the top attractions at Summer League and for good reason. The Porter hype has gradually been building throughout the offseason after the rookie didn’t play last year and Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly fueled that fire after the draft when he said Porter “resembles the player we saw prior to all the injuries.” If you’ve watched Porter’s high school film, that quote makes your skin tingle. Still, the 6-foot-10 swingman has a long way to go. He hasn’t played in a live game in over 15 months and there are components to basketball like rhythm, feel and flow that he won’t get back automatically. Porter’s performance at Summer League will get magnified but Denver is committed to taking it slow with him no matter what. However, a solid showing in Las Vegas could begin to build momentum for the forward to garner rotation minutes next season.

Jarred Vanderbilt

Forward/Center | 6-foot-9 | 20-years-old | Summer League role: Secondary scorer, playmaking four-man

After flashing the unique skill-set in the G League last season that had the Nuggets smiling from ear to ear after they drafted the 6-foot-9 forward in the second round in 2018, Vanderbilt will be a featured player for Denver at Summer League. He’s a natural rebounder with a great feel around the basket and can also be a grab-and-go big man who’s comfortable pushing the ball in transition. His playmaking and ability to push the ball up the floor reminds you of Pascal Siakam and he has the potential to be the power forward of the future for the Nuggets next to Nikola Jokic. Don’t be surprised if Vanderbilt initiates offense for Denver from the top of the key in Las Vegas just like the Nuggets’ All-Star center does on a nightly basis.

Brandon Goodwin

Guard | 6-foot-2 | 23-years-old | Summer League role: Primary lead guard

A natural scorer from the point guard position, Goodwin averaged 22.0 points per game in the G League last season and was efficient from 3, converting on 37.9% of his attempts from beyond the arc. Goodwin is smooth with the ball in his hands and Denver likes the 23-year-old’s potential enough that the Nuggets signed him to a two-way contract last season. He’ll post impressive numbers in Las Vegas.

Thomas Welsh

Center | 7-foot | 23-years-old | Summer League role: Pick-and-pop big

Welsh is a high-IQ center with a natural jumper who played on a two-way contract with the Nuggets last season and spent most of his time in the G League. In Las Vegas, he’ll likely start at the five and give the Nuggets a solid presence in the middle. The biggest takeaway from Welsh’s rookie campaign was that the 7-footer got a lot better, but is he at a level now where he can earn a full-time contract this offseason and arrive at training camp in the fall as the Nuggets’ third center? Denver needs another big man but if Welsh can be that guy next year remains to be seen.

Vlatko Cancar

Forward | 6-foot-8 | 22-years-old | Summer League role: Glue guy

Cancar had an impressive Summer League performance last season which he parlayed into a strong campaign for San Pablo Burgos where he was named one of the top-5 young players in Spain’s ACB League, largely considered the best basketball league in the world after the NBA. Cancar is a versatile forward who does a little bit of everything. He has potential as a jump shooter but only hit 32.7% of his 3s last season, and showed the ability to get to the rim a bit last summer. Defensively, Cancar is a high IQ player who knows where to position himself on that end of the floor and brings a workmanlike and unselfish attitude to the court. Look for him to join the Nuggets next season in Denver.

NBA Comparison: Dario Saric

Terence Davis

Guard | 6-foot-4 | 22-years-old | Summer League role: Secondary creator

An athletic, above-the-rim combo guard, Davis could nab the other starting spot in Denver’s backcourt opposite of Goodwin at Summer League. Last season at Mississippi, he averaged 15.2 points per game, shot 44.4% from the field, and 37.1% from 3 to go with 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He’s an explosive leaper and can thrive as a secondary creator in the half-court but has struggled with his shot selection at times. Defensively, Davis’ 6-foot-8 wingspan gives him some versatility on that end of the floor and he has the strength to guard up to three positions. He was mocked to go in the second round by many draft experts and if Davis’ 3-point shooting translates to the next level he could stick in the league. I wouldn’t expect Davis to make Denver’s opening night roster next season unless the Nuggets make a trade that hurts their backcourt depth, but he probably has a good chance of catching on elsewhere.

NBA Comparison: Malik Beasley

Jordan Davis

Guard | 6-foot-2 | 22-years-old | Summer League role: Microwave scorer

No one in Division 1 college basketball averaged more points per game in isolation situations last season than Davis, who finished his career at Northern Colorado with the most points in school history. Offensively, Davis has a versatile floor game. He converted on 36% of his 3s last season, up from the 24% he shot from distance during his junior year, can get to the rim and also run his team from the point guard position. He was 10th in the country in scoring last year and figures to put up points in bunches wherever he plays next. He’s a strong and powerful guard but more of a natural lead ball handler than Terence Davis and can also play off the ball.

NBA Comparison: Russell Westbrook

Kenny Goins

Forward | 6-foot-7 | 22-years-old | Summer League role: Floor spacer, board man

After only attempting 15 3-pointers over his first three seasons at Michigan State, Goins lived behind the arc as a senior, firing an average of 4.2 3s to only 2.7 two pointers per game. He hit only 34% of his long-range attempts but still gave the Spartans some versatility in their frontcourt and his late triple against Duke propelled Michigan State past Zion Williamson and Duke and into the Final Four. Goins also averaged 8.9 rebounds per game last season, an impressive number for his size.

NBA Comparison: Gorgui Dieng

Jae’Sean Tate

Guard | 6-foot-4 | 23-years-old | Summer League role: Guard depth

Tate played in the Belgian League last season after a four-year run at Ohio State and averaged 11.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game across both league play and Champions League competition. He’s a power guard who’s comfortable taking his man off the dribble but also can operate out of the post if he’s being guarded by a smaller or like-sized defender. Tate has also shown the ability to hit from 3 and converted on 44% of his attempts from distance last year.

NBA Comparison: A left-handed Dion Waiters

Other names to remember

Bol Bol fell in the draft partially due to a foot injury that ended the 7-foot-2 center’s freshman season at Oregon early, but he told the media after Denver made him the 44th overall pick that he’s 100% healthy. The Nuggets will take it slow with Bol, as they did with both Porter and Vanderbilt last season, and expect a lot of G League minutes for him next year. Will Bol play at Summer League? Denver won’t make that determination until the Nuggets have their medical team evaluate him.

Tyler Cook has agreed to a partially guaranteed contract with the Nuggets, a league source confirmed to BSN Denver, meaning the 6-foot-9 big man could be with Denver through training camp but reportedly won’t play at Summer League due to a high ankle sprain. He worked out for the Nuggets last summer before returning to school and went undrafted last week but would give Denver a strong post player to have in the gym throughout the rest of the offseason.

Rion Brown, a 6-foot-6 wing who played last season in Greece’s top league, was rumored at one point this offseason to join the Nuggets for Summer League. Brown is a bouncy off guard who averaged 12.1 points on 44% shooting from the field and 36% from 3 for ASP Promitheas Patras and has bounced around Europe since going undrafted out of the University of Miami in 2014.