Like the Spurs or the Kings, the Denver Nuggets gained talented rookies in the 2024 NBA Draft. While each rookie has their strengths, they each have a question they must address during the season. Here is a question that each rookie on the Denver Nuggets has to answer during the 2024-25 NBA season.
1 Question For Each Denver Nuggets Rookie
DaRon Holmes II
Question: N/A
The Nuggets obtained the draft rights of DaRon Holmes II, the 22nd overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, in a trade with the Phoenix Suns on draft night. As a player, Holmes is a center who can defend at a high level and extend his shooting range beyond the arc. Additionally, he can be a versatile defensive piece as he can guard across multiple positions. He has immense potential to be an excellent player in the future and could have had a good rookie season this year. Unfortunately, Holmes suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in his first game at Summer League. He is expected to be out for the season, so there is no question for him to address. Regardless of that, hopefully, Holmes can bounce back from the injury and have a successful career.
Trey Alexander
Question: Can Alexander Improve as a Defender?
Trey Alexander signed a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets after going undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft. As a player, Alexander‘s talents lie in his shot creation and playmaking. He can generate looks for himself and score on all three levels. Furthermore, Alexander is quite talented as a mid-range shooter. Additionally, Alexander can operate in the pick-and-roll as the ball-handler, where he can both score or step up his teammates. Without a doubt, Alexander is a talented player on the offensive end. At Summer League specifically, Alexander showed off his offensive prowess and scored in double-digits in all five games at Las Vegas. Alexander made it clear that he can flat-out score.
Despite his capabilities on the offensive end of the court, Alexander’s defense isn’t as up to par. He has a slight frame and isn’t quick laterally, which is a detriment for him. It can be a struggle for him to guard quick guards on the perimeter and fight through screens. Thus, the biggest question for Alexander is whether or not he can improve defensively. He won’t be getting playing time with the main team, so he must take the season to develop his defense in the G-League further. Adding weight to his frame and improving his lateral quickness should take top priority for Alexander. If he can improve, it will go a long way for him to gain minutes in his sophomore year and find a place for himself in the NBA.
PJ Hall
Question: Can Hall Become a More Consistent Three-Point Shooter?
PJ Hall signed a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets after going undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft. Hall, as a player, is a talented center who has the potential to extend his range beyond the arc, be an effective scorer and passer, as well as can hold his own against bigs in the post. Throughout Summer League, Hall had moments where his skills shined through. He didn’t shoot the best at Summer League, but Hall did show his potential as a shooter and his scoring ability was apparent. Furthermore, Hall had impressive passing highlights, which continue to showcase his talent offensively.
Hall can provide many different things on offense, which has been made apparent in college and at Summer League. However, one aspect that Hall can improve is his shooting. The big question for Hall going into the season is whether or not he can become more consistent as a three-point shooter. Hall has shown potential as a shooter and can extend his range to beyond the arc, but has shown consistency in his shooting percentage. If he can become a consistent threat from three, there is a real possibility for minutes in his second year. Furthermore, he will increase his value as a player due to being a big who can shoot. Regardless, he will need to take the season to improve his shooting. However, if he can, there is a place for him in the league.
