Nuggets coach David Adelman
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David Adelman is the head coach of the Denver Nuggets.
The Denver Nuggets are set to host the Los Angeles Lakers at the Ball Center on Thursday night. The Nuggets made a couple of important roster moves ahead of an important game amid their struggles.
With Denver’s depth taking hit after hit due to injuries, the franchise announced the signing of point guard Tyus Jones to a contract for the rest of the season. Jones was once considered one of the best backup point guards in the league. He split his time between the Orlando Magic and Dallas Mavericks this season.
Jones is averaging just 3.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 56 games. He’s expected to be the team’s backup point guard, providing excellent playmaking off the bench.
The Magic signed Jones last summer in hopes of solving the team’s backup point guard problem. However, he failed to establish himself among the team’s young roster and was traded to the Charlotte Hornets. He never suited up for the Hornets and was immediately traded to the Mavs.
Jones appeared in just eight games in Dallas before getting waived on February 28. The Denver Post’s Bennett Durando reported that Jones will wear the No. 5 jersey.
Nuggets Also Sign David Roddy
In addition to Jones, the Nuggets also announced the signing of David Roddy on a two-way contract. Roddy replaces Tamar Bates, who was waived despite recovering from a fractured left foot. Bates never suited up for Denver due to the injury.
Roddy, the former No. 23 pick in 2022, is playing for his fifth NBA team. He was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers but was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. He spent the first one and a half seasons of his career in Memphis before getting dealt to the Phoenix Suns in February 2024.
The Suns traded Roddy to the Atlanta Hawks in the summer of 2024. He played 27 games in Atlanta before getting waived. He also suited up for the Sixers and Houston Rockets during the 2024-25 season.
Roddy signed with the Toronto Raptors last season, but he didn’t make the final roster. He spent the majority of this campaign with the Raptors 905 in the NBA G League, as well as representing Team USA in the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament last month.
Nuggets to Get Aaron Gordon Back Soon
The Nuggets have been ravaged by injuries this season, but they are getting closer to having a fully healthy roster. Aaron Gordon has not played since January 23 due to a strained right hamstring.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Gordon is expected to make his return on Friday’s game against the New York Knicks. It has been a tough season for Gordon since it was his second right hamstring injury. He also dealt with a left hamstring injury in last year’s playoffs.
Peyton Watson is also ramping up his return from a strained right hamstring and will be re-evaluated later this week, as per ClutchPoint’s Brett Siegel. Spencer Jones is out against the Lakers with a right shoulder strain, while Cameron Johnson is questionable due to a right ankle sprain.
Tyus and Roddy are not in Denver’s injury report for Thursday’s game, so they could make their debuts tonight. It’s a critical game for the Nuggets since a loss would put them seventh in the West standings.