Denver Nuggets Blog – Page 20 – NBA Blog

Jameer Nelson hopes for increased role on Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets finished 33-49 this season. Veteran point guard Jameer Nelson wasn’t a big part of the team this season, and his best days are behind him. Here’s the Denver Post blog with insight on next season:

Jameer Nelson is back in Philadelphia, spending time with his family and doing more than a little bit of thinking about his future with the Nuggets.

“We’ll see how things go,” he said. “We all have decisions to make.”

Nelson’s preference is to return to the Nuggets next season. Not only just return, but get back to playing a big role on the court. He’s got two years left on the three-year, $13.5 million deal he signed with the team last summer. But he played a total of just seven minutes in the Nuggets’ last 24 games of the season as D.J. Augustin took over the primary reserve point guard role. Nelson doesn’t want a repeat of that next season.

If it appears that a drop off in playing time is in store again, Nelson wouldn’t be apprehensive at all to authorize his agent to request he be traded. His first choice, however, is to return to the Nuggets with his role restored.

Nuggets announce front office and basketball title changes

Denver Nuggets General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced a number of title changes today.

Jared Jeffries, who joined Denver’s front office during the summer of 2013 following an impressive 11-year NBA career, is now the team’s Director of Pro Personnel. The Indiana University alum’s previous title was Pro Personnel Scout.

Tommy Balcetis has been named Director of Analytics after serving as Manager of Analytics since coming to Denver in 2013. Before arriving in Denver he spent two years as an analyst for Fidelity Investments and one year working in the NBA League office in London after graduating from Harvard University.

Scott Howard joined the Nuggets’ front office prior to the 2015-16 season and now holds the title of Director of College Scouting. He came to Denver after serving as the Director of Scouting for the Charlotte Hornets franchise since 2008.

Additionally, coming into the 2015-16 season, Arturas Karnisovas received a new title of Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations.

On the basketball side, Steve Hess will now hold the title of Director of Performance/Assistant Coach and Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. The Ithaca College graduate is one of just six trainers worldwide on the Under Armour training council, is the official spokesperson for the National Sports Center for the Disabled and is a member of NBA Team Fit. The upcoming 2016-17 season will be his 20th with the Denver Nuggets organization.

Felipe Eichenberger also has a new title of Associate Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. He joined the Denver Nuggets in 2011 as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. The Sao Paulo, Brazil native attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University where he was a four-year member of the basketball team and graduated with his degree in health and sports science. He also recently received his Masters in Kinesiology.

Nuggets promote Herb Livsey to Lead Scout

The Denver Nuggets have promoted Herb Livsey to Lead Scout, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

“Herb is the definition of a basketball lifer. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone more dedicated and knowledgeable about the game of basketball,” said Connelly. “Herb is one of the most well respected scouts in all of basketball and our organization is very fortunate to continue to have him as a resource.”

Livsey has been a scout with the Nuggets since the start of the 2008-09 season. Prior to arriving in Denver, he was a scout for the Atlanta Hawks from 2004 to 2008 and a scout for the Portland Trail Blazers from 1998 to 2004. He also served as the director of player development for the Continental Basketball Association from 1996 to 1998.

Emmanuel Mudiay will likely play for Nuggets summer league team

Here’s the Denver Post blog reporting on a key young member of the Nuggets:

The education of young Denver Nuggets point guard Emmanuel Mudiay will likely continue in Las Vegas this July as a member of the team’s summer league roster, head coach Michael Malone said.

And if that’s the case, it’s fine by Mudiay.

“I don’t have a preference,” Mudiay said. “Regardless, I’m just going to work on my game.”

The rookie had an up-and-down season, but did appear to improve over time. In March, Mudiay averaged 15.8 points, 4.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds and shot 39.1 percent from the field, including 38.9 percent from the 3-point line.

Danilo Gallinari will not return this season

The Denver Nuggets are 32-45 this season and got 19.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game from forward Danilo Gallinari, who will have played 53 games this season. As expected, he isn’t returning from injury until next season. Here’s the Denver Post blog reporting:

Though he continues to make good progress on a badly injured right ankle, Danilo Gallinari said he will not play another game for the Nuggets this season.

“No,” he said after the team’s shootaround on Saturday morning.

So, he’s done?

“Yes,” he said.

He’s recovering from two torn lateral ligaments in the ankle — the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular — and has a sprained deltoid ligament as well.

Nuggets sign Axel Toupane to multi-year contract

The Denver Nuggets have signed Axel Toupane to a multi-year contract.

The 6-7, 210 swingman appeared in 11 games for Denver, averaging 3.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game. He previously played in 32 games (14 starts) for the Toronto 905 of the NBA D-League this season, averaging 14.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.00 steals in 29.7 minutes per game.

The 23-year-old native of France played professionally for Strasbourg of the French Pro National Basketball League A from 2011 through 2015. He went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft.

The Nuggets are 30-42 this season and technically still in the race to qualify for the 2016 NBA playoffs, though they’d have to go on a big run to make that happen and get lucky as well. Not likely.

Nuggets sign Axel Toupane to second 10-day contract

The Denver Nuggets have signed Raptors 905 guard-forward Axel Toupane to a second 10-day contract.

Toupane signed his initial 10-day contract with the Nuggets on March 3. In five games with the squad, he is averaging 4.6 points, 1.0 assists and 13.4 minutes.

In 32 games (14 starts) with Raptors 905 in the D-League this season, Toupane is averaging 14.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 29.7 minutes. He has scored in double digits 26 times, has led the team in bench scoring on 11 occasions and has recorded two double-doubles.

Nuggets sign Axel Toupane to 10-day contract

The Denver Nuggets have signed forward Axel Toupane to a 10-day contract, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Toupane (tu-PON), 6-7, 210, has appeared in 32 games (14 starts) for the Toronto 905 of the NBA D-League this season, averaging 14.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.00 steals in 29.7 minutes per game. He is the 25th GATORADE Call-Up of the season so far.

The 23-year-old native of France has played professionally for Strasbourg of the French Pro National Basketball League A since 2011. He went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Toupane will wear uniform #6 and the Nuggets roster now stands at 15 players.

Jameer Nelson falls down Nuggets depth chart

The 23-35 Denver Nuggets are getting 7.9 points and 5.0 assists in 27.1 minutes per game this season from veteran guard Jameer Nelson. His shooting has been a mess: 36.9% FG and 29.9% threes. Here’s the Denver Post with more:

Right now, the point guard hierarchy is as follows: Emmanuel Mudiay, D.J. Augustin, Jameer Nelson. And Mudiay is getting the majority of the minutes.

Two factors have gone into Nuggets coach Michael Malone’s decision to change the depth chart. First, Augustin has come in and quickly played very well since being traded to the Nuggets a week ago. Second, Nelson continues to battle through a sprained left wrist.

And even though he’s been able to suit up, ready to play if needed, he’ll have to wait.

“You know, it’s tough,” Malone said. “D.J. has played well for us. Emmanuel is getting the lion share of the minutes. You cant play three point guards. Jameer and I have talked, and I told him that right now I’m going to play D.J. as the backup.”

Nuggets sign JaKarr Sampson

The Denver Nuggets have signed forward JaKarr Sampson to a multi-year contract, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Sampson, 6-9, 214, has appeared in 47 games (18 starts) for the Philadelphia 76ers this season, averaging 5.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per game. The second-year forward has appeared in 121 career games (50 starts), all with Philadelphia, averaging 5.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 15.1 minutes.

Sampson, 22, went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft after spending two years at St. John’s University. In 66 total games (65 starts) in two seasons at St. John’s, Sampson averaged 13.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 30.3 minutes per game. He was named All-AAC Rookie of the Year and All-AAC Honorable Mention as a freshman in 2013.

The Nuggets roster now stands at 14 players.