The Beat Wants Wings and Answers; Denver's Facts Give Only Some
The loudest stories around Denver concern wings, a trade and the home crowd, and only the wing story has numbers behind it.
Outlets that cover the Nuggets are debating who fills the injured wings' minutes, whether a Kevin Porter Jr. deal is alive, and what Nikola Jokic's comments about booing mean. Denver's own facts back the first, cap the second, and say little about the third.
Who plays the wings?
Nugg Love's David Decker wrote that wing injuries could push Cam Whitmore and Bryce Hopkins into action. Ben Handler wrote for the same outlet that Whitmore blew a golden opportunity in the home opener. Decker also wrote that the defense went big with Trevon Brazile and found a lineup worth revisiting. The roster supports the premise. Cameron Johnson carries a right ankle injury and could return today. Alpha Diallo and Spencer Jones are not expected back before October 28, and Julian Strawther not before November 29. Brazile has averaged 10.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in 23.3 minutes over two games. Nothing we have says how Whitmore or Hopkins played, so that judgment belongs to Nugg Love.
Is a Porter deal still alive?
Hoops Rumors' Arthur Hill reported that the Bucks turned down a potential Kevin Porter Jr. trade with Denver. RealGM reported that the talks involved Zeke Nnaji for Porter, and Nugg Love's Decker wrote that Denver is learning how hard Nnaji is to move. Nnaji is on the roster, and payroll sits at $217.8 million against a $200.4 million tax line, so the motive to shed salary is plausible. But the reports describe a refusal, and no other deal has been reported. The facts support that Denver asked. They do not support a move coming.
Do the boos and the minutes belong together?
ESPN reported that Jokic rallied Denver from 23 down and said booing fans were not welcome anymore. Decker called Jokic way off base, and Mile High Sports' Ryan Blackburn wrote of a disconnect with the fan base. Handler argued separately that playing stars this many minutes will end in familiar disaster. The workload is real: Murray is at 39.8 minutes a game and Jokic at 39.5 across two games, with Braun at 36.5. Denver won 141-135, with Murray scoring 42 and Jokic posting a triple-double. Two games cannot show whether the load becomes a problem. A healthy Johnson would give Adelman one more option to spread it.
Did the Bucks reject a Kevin Porter Jr. trade with the Nuggets?
Hoops Rumors reported on October 24 that the Bucks turned down a potential Porter trade with Denver. RealGM reported the talks involved Zeke Nnaji, and no other deal has been reported.
When are the Nuggets' injured wings expected back?
Cameron Johnson could return today, while Alpha Diallo and Spencer Jones are not expected back before October 28. Julian Strawther is not expected back before November 29.
