PHOENIX — Hours before the Nuggets were set to tip off against the Suns on Saturday night, Nuggets coach Michael Malone had another game on his mind.
Malone wanted to wish three of former players — Malik Beasley, Juancho Hernangomez and Jarred Vanderbilt — well ahead of their debuts with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Those three were dealt Tuesday night as part of a four-team trade that landed the Nuggets Keita Bates-Diop, Noah Vonleh, Shabazz Napier and a first-round pick. Just ahead of Thursday’s deadline, the Nuggets flipped Napier for Washington shooting guard Jordan McRae.
“There were so many different things (going on Tuesday night), but I definitely reached out,” Malone said in his first public comments since the blockbuster deal. “We’ve been communicating with each other. I just sent all three of those guys a message for their first games tonight as Minnesota Timberwolves against the Clippers.
“And that’s the only thing I feel good about it,” Malone continued. “Change is inevitable in the NBA. Players come, players go. Malik and Juancho were here for four years, Jarred for two. Everybody’s leaving on positive terms. I’m happy for those guys. Those guys are going to get opportunities in Minnesota that they deserve.”
Denver’s demanding travel schedule had them on a plane to Utah on Tuesday night, and Malone didn’t get to a chance to say his goodbyes in person. The Nuggets went on beat the Jazz on the second night of back-to-back with just seven players.
They won’t nearly be as undermanned Saturday night, with all three new acquisitions available to play.
“They looked great in shootaround,” Malone said. “We’ll see what happens after that. Noah Vonleh, he’s a really good post defender, very, very strong. He’s guarded Nikola well in the past. Obviously, Keita Bates-Diop, former Big Ten player of the year, good size, versatility, very good moving without the ball. And Jordan McRae is just a bucket getter. A scorer off the bench that you can put in and if you’re having trouble scoring the ball, Jordan has no problem getting his own shot and putting the ball in the basket.”
McRae, who came via the Wizards who were 14 games below .500 heading into Saturday night, said he was excited about competing in a playoff environment.
“Third team in the West, so you know what they are,” McRae said. “You know they can play.”
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February 09, 2020 at 09:44AM
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Michael Malone happy three departing Nuggets players left “on positive terms” - The Denver Post
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