Nuggets to sign G League standout, second-round pick Jarred Vanderbilt getting closer to return

The Nuggets plan to sign Brandon Goodwin from the G League’s Memphis Hustle, a league source confirmed to BSN Denver. Goodwin will be signed by using an injured player exception, which the Nuggets qualify for since Denver has four players (Will Barton, Michael Porter Jr., Isaiah Thomas, Jarred Vanderbilt) who have been sidelined for at least two weeks.

Goodwin, 23, went undrafted last summer out of Florida Gulf Coast University and signed with the Grizzlies in September. The 6-foot-2 guard was added to Memphis’ G League roster before the start of the regular season and has appeared in nine games with the Hustle, averaging 23.4 points on 53.2 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from three, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Goodwin started all nine G League games for Memphis this season.

Denver was in need of an extra body at the end of its bench after assigning two-way players Thomas Welsh and DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell to the G League. Welsh is playing with the Capital City Go-Go, where he’s already appeared in five games, averaging 7.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Akoon-Purcell will likely make his G League debut for the Delaware Blue Coats on Dec. 1. In the G League, Akoon-Purcell can play meaningful minutes while Denver embarks on a difficult five-game road trip beginning in Portland on Friday. Akoon-Purcell has logged just 21 total minutes for the Nuggets this season.

Barton, who underwent surgery to repair core and hip muscle injuries on Oct. 23, is scheduled to be re-evaluated next week. According to a league source, Vanderbilt is ramping up his on-court work and on track for a mid-December return. The 41st overall pick out of Kentucky will likely log a majority of his minutes in the G League this season. Porter and Thomas remain out indefinitely.