Player: Jamal Murray
Team: Denver Nuggets
Projected Role: (Uncertain) Starting Point Guard / Sixth Man
Featured Promo: Get any full-season NBA Premium Pass for 50% off. Win big with our exclusive DFS lineup tools, matchup rating projections, powerful Research Station, Lineup Optimizer, daily DFS lineup picks/cheat sheets and more! Sign Up Now!What to Expect: While Jamal Murray's role is yet to be determined (Nuggets coach Michael Malone has stated that he will settle the ongoing point guard battle after the pre-season), one thing is clear: Denver is high on Jamal Murray. The second-year guard from Kentucky had his fair share of dazzling and disappointing outings last season. But his flashes of brilliance (and the hype) always overshadowed his shortcomings. "The Blue Arrow" as he is called by fans, is getting the push from the front office and Coach Malone. Whether he comes off the bench or starts at point guard, you can expect Murray to shoot a large volume. Here are some things to know about Murray when considering drafting him as one of your sleepers.
The first thing to know when looking at Murray's rookie numbers from last season is that he played most of the season hurt. Playing through a sports hernia can't be an easy thing for a professional athlete, but it demonstrates Murray's best quality: this dude is tough. One thing comes to mind: imagine what he will do when he doesn't literally have a hole in his abdomen. Murray figures to have an easier time attacking the basket, cutting to the rim, and finding spacing on the offensive end. On defense, he projects to take a major step forward. He often got beaten laterally and in pick-and-roll situations last season. I would attribute at least some of that to his injury and the rest to him being a rookie. He has the tools to be an average to good defender at the guard position, and he should look more like that archetype in his second season.
The second thing to know about Murray is that he can really shoot the three. While his percentage from last season, 33.4%, fails to wow most fantasy players, this guy is a gunner. He came into the league with a reputation for shooting the lights out, and you have to figure that his injury played a role in him missing just way too many open shots last season. Murray will have a better year behind the arc this season.
There's one more thing to consider when drafting Murray, and that is his role. Murray would absolutely get more looks and more opportunities as a starter. If your draft takes place after the pre-season for the Nuggets ends (October 10), you can afford to wait to assess where Murray falls for you. If not, my guess is that Murray comes off the bench to start the season, but becomes the starter down the stretch.
Whatever his role becomes, Murray is a part of a Nuggets rotation that will produce on the offensive end. Go get him!
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