The Denver Nuggets signing former NBA Champion Nick Young seems like one of the stranger pairings in the NBA, but when taking a closer look at both the Nuggets’ and Young’s current situations, the bigger picture begins to take shape.
Simply stated, the Denver Nuggets need Nick Young as much as Nick Young needs the Denver Nuggets.
Up until he signed with the Nuggets, Young was out of the NBA and spending time at home with his kids when he was not working out in Los Angeles — his hometown. Young continued to train and kept himself in shape looking for his next NBA opportunity after winning a championship a year prior with the Golden State Warriors. Then, the Nuggets injuries started to pile up. Now, the Nuggets are without Gary Harris, Will Barton, Paul Millsap, Isaiah Thomas, Michael Porter Jr., and Jarred Vanderbilt for the foreseeable future. That group contains not just six players, but three players who are unquestioned starters for Denver. Suddenly, the Nuggets desperately needed NBA-caliber players just to stay afloat.
“Once I saw the injuries, I thought something could happen,” Young explained when asked about how he ended up signing with the Nuggets. “I talked to them about a month ago and we were waiting to see what happens. They ended up calling me again on Friday, flew out on the same day, got in the gym, and the only thing wrong is the altitude out here.”
The Nuggets need Young and, inversely, Young needs the Nuggets. Both parties knew this and that is why Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly — who worked with the Washington Wizards when Young was still playing for them — has been talking about bringing in Young for the better part of a month. Connelly and Young have maintained a strong relationship over the years and he is the main reason why Young is now donning Nuggets uniform — at least until the Nuggets roster begins to get healthier.
“He was the main one calling me and talking to me,” Young explained when asked if it was Tim Connelly who helped bring him to Denver. “He was making sure I was in the gym. He called me and said, ‘are you 240 (pounds) right now or 250 (pounds)?’. I was like, ‘I am close’. No, I am just playing (laughs).”
So now, Young is gearing up to play for the Nuggets and working towards figuring out which ways he can help the team. While there is always a bit of a feeling-out period for a new player trying to ingratiate himself onto a new team, Young seems confident in what he can bring to Denver
“Just energy,” Young said when asked about what role he envisions filling for the Nuggets. “I can shoot the ball a little bit. These guys are playing great. They have a couple injuries, but they are still trying to stay on track. I am coming in to try to help the best I can.”
When Nuggets head coach Michael Malone was asked about what Young can bring to the table for Denver, he had a plethora of thoughts on the matter.
“Just a healthy body and a guy who has been there and done that,” Malone said when asked what Young and do to help the Nuggets. “When you are in the middle of December, there is not a long list of available guys who can come in and help. Tim Connelly and Wes Unseld — guys who have been around Nick — know him has a person. It is my first time coaching him, but teams have to game plan for Nick Young. He is a threat off the bench, he has great size, and I think, career-wise, he is a 37 or 38 percent from the 3-point line. I told him that tonight — right now he has a million things going on — just relax, play your game, if you are open shoot it, but if you are not, make a play for someone else. His talent level, his experiences, and his playoff experience are all reasons he was an attractive candidate for us.”
If it was not already obvious, Young, who signed his contract on Monday morning, will be suited up and available for the Nuggets matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
“Everything is cleared,” Young told the media on Monday morning after shootaround. “I am cleared to play tonight so we will see. It just beats being home and watching TV right now.”
Not only is Young cleared, but Malone said that he has, “no hesitation to put him out there tonight.” It would not be surprising at all if Malone played Young some minutes against the Grizzlies even though Young’s participation at shootaround on Monday morning is the only experience he had with most of the roster (the only player currently employed by the Nuggets that Young has played with is Isaiah Thomas. They played together in Los Angeles for the Lakers). The Nuggets desperately need depth so it looks as if Young will be thrown into the fire immediately.
“He is here for a reason,” Malone explained. “Obviously, we are so banged up. We know his body of work and what the is capable of doing. If he is asked to go out on the floor, I think he will be able to go out there and help us. He has a lot of games under his belt and a lot of experience under his belt.”
For Young, being able to spend time with the Nuggets is essentially a try-out for him in his plight to return to the NBA. He may have only been signed using an injury hardship relief exception — which means that, unless the Nuggets cut or trade a player, he will only be in Denver until their roster gets healthier — but Young is almost sure to receive some minutes with the Nuggets and, in that time on the court, the rest of the league will be watching. This is Young’s opportunity to prove that he can still help NBA teams and he is not doubting himself whatsoever.
“I can’t doubt things when you’re Swaggy P,” Young said when vocalizing his confidence in the third person. “I still have to be Swaggy at the end of the day so there was never a doubt in my mind. No, I am just kidding (laughs).”
Even with all of that being true, Young is just happy to be back on an NBA team again regardless of the circumstances surrounding his signing.
“Just being able to pay basketball again,” Young explained. “It is humbling being at home just chilling, watching TV, playing with the kids, and I missed it a little bit. I am glad to be out here and back in a uniform playing this game.”
Not only is Young excited to be back in the NBA, but he is specifically excited to be playing in Denver. He has a very positive perspective of the Nuggets and cannot wait to get going. From his time talking with the media on Monday morning, it was beyond clear that he feels this Nuggets team is a legitimate contender in the Western Conference and he cannot wait to help them achieve their goals.
“A young team playing for the top contender in the West,” Young said when asked what about the Nuggets excited him. “Who wouldn’t want to play with a team that is hungry and ready to win? Playoff bound — who wouldn’t want to be on that team?”
For Young, his confidence has not wavered. The Nuggets need him and he needs the Nuggets, but that does not mean that he is doubting himself in any way, shape or form. Nick Young will continue to do what Nick Young does regardless of the circumstances surrounding his career and that may be exactly what the Nuggets need.