One good trip deserves another. After signing shooting guard Sean Kilpatrick to a 10-day contract on Jan. 12th, the Denver Nuggets will be bringing him back for another 10-day deal, league sources told BSN Denver.
His original deal expires today and this is the last 10-day contract the team can sign him to; after this second contract is up, the Nuggets must decide if they want to sign Kilpatrick for the rest of the season or let him walk.
Kilpatrick’s first 10-day contract spanned five home games for the Denver Nuggets. He did not play against the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 13th or the Miami Heat on Jan. 15th, as both games were tight and he was still learning the system. Kilpatrick saw his first action in a 129-126 win over the Indiana Pacers, where he played just five minutes and was 0-2 from the floor.
Against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kilpatrick saw a little more action and played eight minutes. Fittingly enough for the outside shooter, his first made bucket came at the 11:39 mark of the second quarter when he fired up his first shot — a 3-pointer — to extend Denver’s lead to 34-25. Kilpatrick would go on to hit two free throws and finished the game with five points on 1-3 shooting to go along with one rebound.
A look at Kilpatrick’s first bucket with the Nuggets:
Last night against the Memphis Grizzlies, Kilpatrick had his final audition with the Nuggets on his first contract. Michael Malone gave him an extended look with 12 minutes of action, once again spread throughout the first and second halves. Kilpatrick shot 1-4 on the night — all 3-point attempts — and 1-2 at the foul line for four points, including one assist and one steal.
Here is a look at Kilpatrick’s relentless defense on Jeff Green that led to a Will Barton layup. Kilpatrick, as he’s been known to do, jumps the passing lane and gets to Green’s pass before Mario Chalmers is able to get to the ball. Green goes into the backcourt to collect it, but Kilpatrick sneaks up on him and pokes the ball away. Barton collects the loose ball and lays it in to cut Memphis’ lead to 37-23.
Through five games Kilpatrick is averaging 4.3 minutes, 1.7 points and shot 20 percent on 3-pointers (2-9). We got to see a little of his physical play on the defensive end, and it’d be nice to see him do a little more on the offensive end — but he has played to his perimeter strengths thus far.
“I’m very physical,” said Kilpatrick to BSN Denver on Jan. 13th. “I’m physical on the defensive and offensive end. I’m someone that can shoot, that’s something that a lot of people in America know that I can do. I can really drive to the basket, and that’s something that I really think helps and frees up my shot. I just want to continue to keep bringing that spirit and competitive toughness to the Denver Nuggets.”
He has a quick release on that long-range shot and once he gets more comfortable in Denver’s offense, we may see that shot start to fall as nerves fall away. Kilpatrick looked much more relaxed against the Thunder and Grizzlies, and just getting out there and playing the game he loves has helped. Hopefully we’ll get to see that driving ability, but he was brought to Denver to audition as a knockdown shooter — so he’ll have to take what he gets offensively. But the Nuggets need his outside shooting, so the bulk of his work coming there is fine.
Here is another look at that quick release that we will hopefully see more of on his second 10-day deal.
UPDATE: The Nuggets have signed Kilpatrick to his second 10-day contract:
Nuggets press release.
