Denver Nuggets: Tyler Lydon is struggling in NBA Summer League

The Denver Nuggets traded down from the chance to take Donovan Mitchell and took Tyler Lydon, who’s been struggling in Las Vegas.

Seeing Donovan Mitchell go bonkers in NBA Summer League shouldn’t be an easy sight for the Denver Nuggets‘ front office. They sat on June 22 with the chance to take the combo guard out of Louisville with the 13th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Instead they traded the pick.

Denver flipped the 13th pick for the 24th pick and the Utah Jazz’s Trey Lyles. Far from a lopsided trade, only time will tell how this all pans out. The Nuggets were likely more interested in the potential of Lyles, not the 24th pick, than the future of anyone available at No. 13. Mitchell may have something to say about that, but the move made sense.

Where Lyles is a bit of a tweener, so is Tyler Lydon, who the Nuggets took with the 24th pick. Both players will look to break into Denver’s competitive rotation this year. As of now, though, those prospects look a lot better for Lyles than Lydon.

Lyles has the benefit of two years in the league, while Lydon is really struggling in Las Vegas Summer League. Summer League play isn’t a declaration, or a death sentence in Lyles’ case, but it’s certainly not encouraging. The competition level, of course, is so far below what he’d face on a nightly basis in the NBA.

Summer League sadness

After converting a tough fade away jumper for his first professional basket, it’s been all downhill for Lydon. In his last two games he’s put up three or less points and shot a combined 1-for-7 from three. If his shot isn’t falling, it’s hard to see him being an NBA player.

Lydon has some sneaky athleticism, but he’s suffering against elite NBA length and size. It’s hard to envision him being a small-ball 4, unless it’s off the bench. While he’s athletic enough to chase big men to the three-point line, he won’t be able to outmuscle anyone inside. As for small forwards, they’re just too quick for him. The term “tweener” is an endearing term as of late, but that label for him doesn’t seem like a good thing.

There’s plenty of time both this summer, during the season and over the course of his rookie contract, but Lydon does not look like a first round talent. The optimistic look at his game was as a combo forward who could stretch the floor and rack up steals and blocks. The blocks and some steals have come, but his best-case scenario doesn’t look like the likely outcome right now.

Fit on the Nuggets

Between the acquisition of Paul Milsap, the trade for Trey Lyles and the presence of both Kenneth Faried and Wilson Chandler (though one or both could be moved this year), there is little time available in the rotation. For the potential spots that Lydon plays, he may barely get any NBA minutes next season.

This may be a good thing, though. Lydon does not seem ready to contribute and a year in the G-League could do wonders for him to get closer to where he needs to be. Some minutes may open up at the 3, but his NBA future is likely as a stretch-4. Without much defensive upside and an inability to do much other than shoot the ball, he doesn’t have the makings of a productive small forward.

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Therefore, it’s difficult to imagine a long-term fit in Denver. Pointing out the state of the Nuggets’ roster won’t be news to Lydon. He just needs to focus on learning how to be a professional and improve. The rest will sort it out from there.