HOUSTON – If there’s any bright side to the rash of injuries that have plagued the Nuggets over the last two weeks, itap that there are now ample opportunities for reserves to find significant minutes on the court.
In the wake of the news — the center will be re-evaluated in two-to-four weeks with a right cuboid (foot) injury — reserve forwards and Vlatko Cancar are likely to get time against the Rockets on Wednesday.
“Just find ways, thatap our biggest challenge right now,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said from Wednesday’s shootaround at a Houston-area high school. “Don’t waste an ounce of energy on the guys that can’t play, letap figure out who can play and go out there, fight and give ourselves a chance.”
Vanderbilt, a Houston native, has played 10 games with the G League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers and three more with the Windy City Bulls this season. In 30 minutes per game with the Bulls, he’s averaging 17.3 points and 10 rebounds a night.
“Obviously he’s not Mason Plumlee, but I think he can screen, he can roll, he can run the floor, he can rebound and he’s a pretty good playmaker,” Malone said. “Thatap the great thing about this. The silver lining is we’ll get a great opportunity to get an insight into Jarred Vanderbilt and see what he can bring to the table. And I’m excited for that opportunity because he’s worked hard.”
At this point Bol Bol, last summer’s second-round pick, isn’t a viable option for their frontcourt. The Nuggets are maintaining a careful approach as he continues his rehab from foot surgery.
Malone also said that of their three injured starters, (adductor) was the closest to returning but added this caveat: “When I say closest, I don’t know how close that is.”
He said both (ankle) and (knee) are still “a ways off.”
