On Friday night, Denver Nuggets forward-center DaRon Holmes II suffered an Achilles tear during his Las Vegas Summer League debut, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The big man sustained the injury while flying around on defense. A junior prospect out of Dayton, the 21-year-old is now “expected to miss” the entire 2024-25 season.
Denver Nuggets No. 22 overall pick DaRon Holmes II has suffered a torn right Achilles tendon, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. He’s expected to miss the 2024-25 season. Devastating blow for one of the Nuggets’ promising young pieces. pic.twitter.com/05iQQEAZYV
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 13, 2024
Playing against the Los Angeles Clippers in the LVSL opener, Holmes recorded 11 points, seven rebounds, and one steal while going 3-3 from 3-point range.
Nuggets May Lose Promising DaRon Holmes II for Entire Season
The 2024 No. 22 pick, the Nuggets made a draft night trade for Holmes. In exchange for the Arizona native, Denver sent the Phoenix Suns the 2024 No. 28 pick (Ryan Dunn) and three second-round picks in return. Interestingly, Holmes was rumored to have received a first-round draft promise by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo. That may have come from the Nuggets considering what they gave up to get him.
6-foot-9 and 236 pounds, Holmes started at center for the Nuggets in Summer League. This was perhaps unexpected, as he anchored the Flyers’ defense with his rim-protection, leaving college averaging 2.1 blocks per game. Nonetheless, as he was poised for a role as a backup big, Denver now have a couple of decisions to make.
Though Denver re-signed DeAndre Jordan, Holmes’s body is much fresher than the soon-to-be 36-year-old’s. Once a revered shot-blocker, the veteran center is far past his prime. He was always bound to have a limited impact playing behind 3-time MVP, Nikola Jokic. However, he only averaged 11.0 minutes per game in 2023-24 because of his physical decline.
This is where Holmes came in. With his athleticism and activity level, he would’ve been able to affect the game in ways that Jordan can’t. He would’ve also been a great complement to Jokic, who has mastered the offensive end but whose interior defense leaves something to be desired.
What’s Next for the Nuggets?
Now, the Nuggets must turn back to Jordan, acquire a backup big, or look deeper on their roster for help.
Looking at the free agency landscape, only two of the available centers played regularly last season: Precious Achiuwa and Bismack Biyombo. Of the two, Achiuwa bears the most similarities to Holmes, but he may also be out of their price range. Yet, this is a simpler path than trading for a big man due CBA constraints. With the Nuggets trying to complete a trade for Clippers star guard Russell Westbrook, it’s even less practical.
That being said, Zeke Nnaji could be getting one more shot at a rotation spot. Upon being drafted, he had few of the same skills as Holmes. Nnaji, at 6-foot-9 and 240 pounds, is an athletic defender with shooting upside. However, his rebounding and defensive awareness have been behind the curve, so he’s averaged just 12.5 minutes per game in his career.
If Nnaji can play smarter and stronger, he could earn a rotation spot. If not, it’ll likely go to Jordan. That’s if the Nuggets don’t sign a mobile rim-protector and rebounder like Biyombo.
