One of the most intriguing players from the 2019 draft class, 7’2″ Nuggets forward Bol Bol has only appeared in 39 games during his first two NBA seasons, but is determined to earn a larger role in 2021/22, as Kyle Fredrickson of The Denver Post writes. The big man said on Monday that he agrees with teammate Michael Porter Jr.‘s assessment that a “mindset change” is necessary in order for Bol to take a major step forward in his third year.
“He’s totally correct,” Bol said. “To add on to that, it’s more so consistency. It’s not just me doing it one day or two days a week. I’ve got to figure out how to put it together for a whole entire year and not just when things are going my way.”
Bol added that he views power forward as his primary position, but is willing to play anywhere the Nuggets ask him to, “one through five.”
Here’s more out of Denver:
- Although Jamal Murray is itching to get back on the court following his ACL surgery, he recognizes that he shouldn’t rush the process and made it clear that he doesn’t plan to, as Mike Singer of The Denver Post details. “I want to feel good when I come back,” Murray said. “I don’t want to come back when I’m like 85%, whatever, no matter where the team’s at. I want to come back when it feels like I can play with the same amount of force that I normally play with.” For their part, the Nuggets are on board with that plan. “He’ll come back when he’s ready, not when we tell him, not a date on the calendar,” president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said.
- The Nuggets haven’t really been linked to Ben Simmons this offseason, but for what it’s worth, a source with knowledge of the situation tells Singer that there’s no chance Denver would move Murray in a deal for the Sixers star.
- Sam Vecenie of The Athletic takes a look at why the Nuggets felt comfortable making such a significant investment in Michael Porter Jr., arguing that it’s a calculated and necessary risk for the franchise. As Vecenie points out, given the weak 2022 free agent class, Porter might’ve ended up being the best player on the open market next year if he hadn’t received an extension now. Denver would’ve been able to match any offer sheet in that scenario, but a rival team could’ve put a player option and a trade kicker into its offer — the Nuggets instead got a partial guarantee on the final year of Porter’s extension.
- Nuggets head coach Michael Malone admitted on Monday that his roster isn’t fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to Fredrickson. Malone said that he’d love the team’s vaccination rate to be at 100%, but can only do so much to push players in that direction. “All we can do is try to help educate the players that have chosen to be unvaccinated to this point,” Malone said. “Maybe at some point, they realize what’s at stake and they make that decision to get vaccinated. Until then, we’ll keep on trying for sure.”
- In case you missed it, the Nuggets officially completed Aaron Gordon‘s four-year extension on Monday. Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link) provides the financial breakdown of the deal, which looks about like we expected, albeit with a slightly lower fourth-year player option salary and slightly more unlikely incentives.
Malone will find a way to exclude Bol Bol from the rotation.
As is tradition.
Rightfully so at this point. Hoping Bol can reach close to his potential eventually
It won’t help him do that if he doesn’t play. Look at MPJ. Finally got the minutes he deserved, and was able to grow his game. Bol needs minutes, whether thats in Denver or somewhere else.
Wrong… The coaches see these guys in practice every day.
While in-game experience is necessary and helpful, if a guy is constantly making mistakes in practice, it’s not going to magically translate into a consistent/reliable player in the games
The Nuggets haven’t really been linked to Ben Simmons this offseason, but for what it’s worth, a source with knowledge of the situation tells Singer that there’s no chance Denver would move Murray in a deal for the Sixers star.
Hahahahaha, the Sixers should have drafted Jamal Murray instead
Now they are stuck with the Simmons Clown Show
Simmons isn’t the clown. The 76ers are the clowns. The organization screwed the pooch. Good organizations keep everything in house. Then if they need to dump err trade a player they can.
How about this
Porter Jr and Ja Green for Simmons
Use Porter giant contract to match salary
Why would Rockets even consider that trade? Unless a different Green and Porter Jr.
Edit: I looked it up. They both have a Porter Jr and a Ja Green. Sorry for the confusion on my part. Carry on
Those two (Green and Porter) are the foundation of the Rockets future right now. If they were to trade for Simmons, which is a possibility, it would either involve John Wall or a combination of Eric Gordon and a couple of other players to match salaries.
The others would be guys like Augustin, Exum, Nwaba, and House.
Although Nwaba and Exum can’t be traded until after the season starts so now it would have to be Gordon, Augustin, and House.
Porter doesn’t make his giant salary until next year. He’s untradeable now.
Michael Porter Jr salary calculation
Combine this season and next season salary as a basis
Should’ve required anti-vax Porter to get the jab before putting pen to extension…
That is a valid point. They’re going to lose him for at least a handful of games based on venue requirements. And then if he actually does get Covid it takes the unvaxxed longer to recover.
Not true regarding the last part of your statement, dumbfounded by how people with no medical background whatsoever just regurgitate nonsense that they’ve been hearing. As for the first part, all of the cities with indoor vaccination requirements (San Fran, New York) only require their own residents to be compliant, so visiting players like MPJ wouldn’t be affected. Let’s stop with this “if you don’t take the Vax, it affects other people” nonsense, it’s simply not true (I’ve done 4 years of medical school fyi)
I appreciate the info.
NBATR has had a bunch of posts, emphasizing the teams desire for athletes to get the vaccine. I wonder how informed their writers are on the subject. Maybe their hands are tied.
Bol at the one is something I would pay to see.
Should’ve let the man play in SL at the one.
Bol needs weight 220 is not getting it. I like Denver’s team. They have depth this yr. Murray should be back for second half. Porter has to finally play for that all star status. Denver stays healthy they will be better in playoffs. Could be a dangerous team in playoffs.
Could be a 2019 post.
If you’re not going to play a guy, just release him or trade him.