Nuggets training camp capsules: D.J. Kennedy

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In the buildup to training camp beginning Sept. 27, BSN Denver is profiling the Nuggets roster player by player, reflecting on their performance last year and what they have to prove in training camp, preseason, and throughout the regular season to have a productive 2016-17 campaign.

Player Profile

D.J. Kennedy, 6-foot-6, 215 pounds

2015-2016 averages (Yenisey Krasnoyarsk -Russia): 40 games (38 starts), 14.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists.

Projected role: Competing for roster spot as a reserve guard/forward

Training camp outlook

Kennedy was signed by the Nuggets in August shortly after leading Overseas Elite to a victory over Team Colorado in The Basketball Tournament (a 5-on-5 winner take all, single elimination tournament featuring sixty-four teams and $2 million dollar prize for the victors).

His strong performance caught the Nuggets’ eye and they will now give him a chance to make an NBA roster. Kennedy’s contract is partially guaranteed but this far from guarantees anything for him as he’ll compete for the Nuggets final roster spot during training camp and preseason.

Kennedy spent time on the Cleveland Cavaliers roster in 2012 before making several brief stops elsewhere around the league in between playing in the D-League. The 26-year-old spent the last three seasons overseas playing in France, Israel, and Russia.

On a crowded roster, Kennedy faces an uphill battle to remain on it when opening night comes. He will be competing against Axel Toupane and JaKarr Sampson with training camp invites Robbie Hummel and Nate Wolters also figuring to be in the mix for an end of the bench, reserve role. Kennedy lacks the professional experience of Toupane and Sampson but might have a more refined offensive game than those two, as he proved this summer. He’ll need to prove he can shoot the three and create enough to impress the Denver coaching staff.

Kennedy will need to have an excellent training camp and make the most of his opportunities during the preseason. He has little to no margin for error when it comes to making the roster. Unfortunately for Kennedy, he still might be on the outside looking in when the regular season rolls around. There just is not a whole lot of opportunity on the roster, which is largely already set heading into the 2016-2017 season.

The best case scenario for Kennedy is that he builds off his performance in The Basketball Tournament and has a strong camp and preseason where he catches on with the Nuggets or elsewhere. Kennedy is capable of being a player in the Association, it just might not be in Denver. Regardless, though, he will be one of the most intriguing stories to keep track of at training camp.