Trevon

Brazile

The rookie out of Arkansas tied Julian Strawther for team lead in minutes, and he had a serviceable night, going 3-of-4 from the field and making an impact on defense. Denver doesn’t boast a deep bench, especially in the frontcourt, so Brazile has a real chance to earn meaningful rotation minutes in Year 1.

Brazile did not have his best night shooting the basketball, but the second-round pick still showed why Denver made sure to draft him. Active on the glass and defensively, the 6-foot-10 forward finished with another solid stat line. Like fellow second-round pick Bryce Hopkins, Brazile has not yet agreed to a contract, with Peyton Watson’s free agency likely a factor. However, he has the potential to contribute immediately for the Nuggets because of his athleticism and motor.

Brazile put forth his best performance of the summer on Tuesday, and he was on fire from the start. The second-round pick scored 19 points in the first half, ending it with a long three from just inside the half-court line as time expired. Brazile would score 13 more after halftime, more than holding his own against a Thunder frontcourt headlined by lottery pick Aday Mara. Because of Peyton Watson’s restricted free agency, Brazile’s contract status has not been finalized, but games like Tuesday’s likely increase his chances of landing a standard deal.

Brazile made his first summer league appearance on Friday, and he struggled to finish around the basket. The former Arkansas forward/center shot 2-of-7 from two, but he was active on the boards with a game-high 11 rebounds. Like fellow rookie Bryce Hopkins, Brazile has not finalized a contract as the Nuggets attend to other affairs, most notably Peyton Watson’s restricted free agency. With DaRon Holmes II a full year removed from his Achilles tear and Zeke Nnaji yet to pan out, there may be opportunities for Brazile off the bench, mainly as a defender and rebounder.

After one season at Missouri, the 6-foot-10 Brazile spent the next four at Arkansas. He saved his best for last, averaging 13.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.6 blocks and 1.3 three-pointers in 31.5 minutes per game, all career-high numbers. Part of the Darius Acuff Jr.-led team that won the SEC tournament in March, Brazile shot 52.5 percent from the field, 34.1 percent from three and 71.7 percent from the foul line. The Nuggets need frontcourt depth, especially if the Aaron Gordon trade rumors lead to a move. Brazile’s athleticism and defensive ability will give him an opportunity to earn rotation minutes off the bench.