With Ismael Kamagate, The Denver Nuggets Have Help On Its Way

In an earlier piece, it was explored how, for all the Denver Nuggets’ defensive issues, there existed one specifically – their two-man centre rotation of Nikola Jokic and DeAndre Jordan.

However his unparalleled offensive greatness, Jokic provides one thing again defensively. He boards, he reads and he slaps on the ball, however he simply doesn’t transfer rapidly. Nor does Jordan, his new backup added over the offseason, who retains some verticality however little in the way in which of lateral velocity. With each halves of their centre rotation hampered by this similar limitation – and with no actual third smaller-ball possibility on the incumbent roster exterior of spot minutes for Aaron Gordon and Jeff Inexperienced, which might produce other drawbacks – the Nuggets are at present constructed in such a approach that they determine to have this drawback for the rest of the season.

Subsequent season, nonetheless, assist could also be on the way in which, within the type of this yr’s second-round decide.

Drafted 46nd total by the Detroit Pistons, Ismael Kamagate – or extra particularly, at this level, his draft rights – arrived in Denver by means of the Detroit Pistons, who traded them to the Portland Path Blazers as an ancillary a part of the Jerami Grant commerce, who instantly redirected them to the Nuggets in trade for a 2024 second-round decide. The Nuggets due to this fact took of venture that whoever could be out there to them with that decide in two yr’s time wouldn’t be nearly as good as Kamagate. And the early indications are, they could be proper.

Kamagate is spending his first post-draft season with Paris Basket, an upstart staff in France’s capital metropolis owned by former Minnesota Timberwolves govt David Kahn that solely got here into being 4 years in the past. In that point, they’ve rapidly propelled from the French decrease tier into the EuroCup, a second-tier intracontinental European competitors, the place they at present sit in third place in Group B with a 6-3 document. And on the centre not simply of the courtroom, however of that success, is Kamagate, a 21-year-old French massive into his fourth yr with the staff.

In 9 video games of EuroCup play thus far this season, Kamagate has recorded averages of 9.7 factors, 9.3 rebounds and a pair of.0 blocks in solely 25.4 minutes per recreation, and is within the operating for being the competitors’s Defensive Participant of the 12 months. His blocks totals are tied for probably the most within the competitors, whereas his rebounding ranks second solely to former Hawks draft decide Alpha Kaba. And though these fundamental counting stats go some approach to illustrate the impression Kamagate has on that finish of the courtroom, they don’t go far sufficient.

The draft intrigue in Kamagate centred round his defensive versatility. Lengthy, tall and wiry sturdy, he’s an actual space-eater, and he’s cellular in addition. Kamagate is a everlasting defensive presence, one way or the other who looms over opponents, and who has measurement, burst and lateral motion not often seen in a single so massive. He will get up and down the courtroom, in addition to within the air, in a short time.

Past the bodily profile, Kamagate’s consciousness could be very superior for his age. He strikes properly on the perimeter, with mobility, measurement and athleticism, and he’s notably good in house, studying the screens and the passing traces, coming in from the weak aspect, defending the basket, clearing the glass, and masking the bottom exterior, Though he seems to be fairly wiry, he’s not simply moved off the spot as soon as he will get there first. And he doesn’t even foul all that a lot within the course of both.

Albeit in a a lot decrease utilization function, Kamagate is an unavoidable presence on the offensive finish, too. At all times out there excessive within the halfcourt and really keen to run within the full courtroom, the Frenchman is vastly environment friendly as a finisher, largely by means of the benefit with which he dunks. Kamagate combines a blistering 79.7% capturing from the sector with an inexpensive mid-60s% free throw stroke that pairs with the occasional baseline jumper to recommend some extra capturing could also be in his future. Kamagate is a cautious curler who nonetheless does so with poise, who has proven some passing affinity on the transfer, and who’s getting extra bodily and aggressive on the basket over time.

To make use of the buzzwords of the day, whilst you can not give the ball to Kamagate when he’s standing nonetheless and obtain a lot aside from a move again out, he’ll nonetheless provide roll gravity and vertical spacing.

There are, in fact, offensive limitations past the shortage of the bounce shot. Kamagate demonstrates neither the perfect arms on the catch nor the strongest finishes contained in the lane, and if his body does tackle extra muscle over time, it would come at the price of a number of the velocity. The deal with is excessive and he struggles underneath duress, and, in accordance with the fashionable approach, he doesn’t publish up.

There are additionally defensive limitations; or a minimum of, there may be one specifically. At this level in his improvement, though head coach Will Weaver’s defensive recreation plan empowers (and depends upon) Kamagate to cowl a lot floor exterior, he overhelps. He could also be fluid and quick on switches and in assist conditions, however he can overdo it and quit shooters in pop motion. With their plethora of frontcourt shooters today, NBA groups will exploit this.

Minor cavils apart, nonetheless, there’s a lot to love about Kamagate as an NBA prospect. And probably the most likeable factor is that this isn’t merely potential or buzzword bingo. That is one thing he’s really doing, already, in opposition to high quality competitors.

Whereas the EuroCup is replete with gamers who both are, had been or could possibly be on the fringes of NBA rotations – Kamagate’s personal staff options fellow second-round decide Juhann Begarin, in addition to NBA veterans Axel Toupane, Jeremy Evans and Tyrone Wallace – it’s nonetheless a way beneath being within the rotation of a staff contending for the NBA title. Opponents sick of coping with the fixed onslaught that’s Jokic will mild up on the sight of a comparatively untested rookie like Kamagate. The Nuggets want a extra pressing answer than this of their short-term title problem.

What could also be true, although, is that Kamagate could possibly be part of it. Other than not having the rangy jumper of the fashionable stretch 5 – which is extra of a super than a actuality anyway – Kamagate performs in house, has size, velocity, the power to go excessive, smarts, and a powerful understanding of himself. He contributes on each ends, to a degree and in a way not simply discovered exterior of the NBA.

There’s due to this fact likelihood that, this time subsequent yr, he might be producing some high quality play in NBA minutes and other people might be questioning the place “this man” got here from. So now we all know. Detroit, through Portland.