Rookie forward Trevon Brazile made a compelling case for a regular season rotation role during the preseason, Nuggets insider Chris Dempsey writes at his Demps and Circumstance blog.

In addition to bringing plus size and leaping ability at power forward, Brazile is a top-tier finisher around the basket and can stretch the floor from well beyond the arc. The former Arkansas standout also possesses a 7’4″ wingspan and can block and alter shots at the defensive end, an element the Nuggets have lacked for some time.

Another appealing aspect of Brazile’s game is that he doesn’t need plays called for him to be successful, Dempsey notes. The 23-year-old averaged 9.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 19.8 minutes per game across five preseason appearances. Brazile converted 79.2% of his field goal attempts, including 66.7% from long distance in a small sample size.

Here’s more on the Nuggets:

• Don’t read much into DeMar DeRozan’s slow start during the preseason, Dempsey states in another story. The six-time All-Star is in his first season with the Nuggets, and the two sides are still getting adjusted to each other. The team needs to find ways to get DeRozan more shots near the basket instead of having him hang out on the perimeter, where he’s not known for his outside, and his teammates need to move off the ball when the 37-year-old forward is operating 1-on-1, according to Dempsey.
• In an interview with Mark Medina of Fadeaway World, veteran point guard Tyus Jones discusses being traded multiple times last season and eventually signing with the Nuggets, getting acclimated to Denver, what he thinks of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, and more. Jones is optimistic the Nuggets’ second unit will present problems for opposing teams. “I think we can be dynamic. I think we can bring different looks. Obviously, DeMar is a Hall-of-Fame player and scorer. So he’s going to be our focal point with our second unit,” Jones said. “We have talented guys that can play off of him in [Marvin] Bagley, Spencer Jones and Julian [Strawther]. We also have some rookies that are ready to contribute. We can throw different looks at teams. But I think as a unit, we’ll be ready to contribute and ready to gel and match each and every day. We’re looking to do our job and our role.”
• Head coach David Adelman recently discussed the offense and how the team can improve on last season’s top-ranked unit (Twitter video link Law Murray of The Athletic).
• In case you missed it, fourth-year wing Strawther is out at least six weeks after spraining his left knee.