The 2018 NBA Manifesto
Torrey Craig
SG/SF - 6’6, 215lbs - 27 years old - 1 year of experience
One of the more successful two-way players in the league this season, Craig got a couple of random spot starts early in the season seemingly out of nowhere, and yet delivered on them. This in turn led to a fair bit of a role with the NBA club for the remainder of the campaign, and only a lack of space prevented him from getting the full NBA contract that his play had merited.
Coming from the Australian league of all places, Craig quickly outperformed the G-League, averaging 22.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.1 steals per game on 47.5% shooting. For all the scoring, he was best defensively, a strong and athletic wing who played with energy, went to the glass, defended multiple possessions, and even took on the star assignments. And he did it so technically well at this level for someone with so little top-level or even second level experience.
Craig now needs to shoot better. The 38.6% shooting of his G-League season did not translate to the Nuggets, and while he did not hurt the team offensively (playing within his limitations), simply moving the ball and straight-line driving will not get it done. He needs to hit the spot-ups and cut more for Jokic feeds. That jump shot needs to appear. But whether it does or it doesn’t, Craig will draw value on the market for the defensive profile alone. He has already had a better Nuggets career than Yakhouba Diawara.
Player Plan: Expiring two-way contract. Will command full contracts on the market - match them unless it gets silly.
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SG/SF - 6’6, 215lbs - 27 years old - 1 year of experience
One of the more successful two-way players in the league this season, Craig got a couple of random spot starts early in the season seemingly out of nowhere, and yet delivered on them. This in turn led to a fair bit of a role with the NBA club for the remainder of the campaign, and only a lack of space prevented him from getting the full NBA contract that his play had merited.
Coming from the Australian league of all places, Craig quickly outperformed the G-League, averaging 22.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.1 steals per game on 47.5% shooting. For all the scoring, he was best defensively, a strong and athletic wing who played with energy, went to the glass, defended multiple possessions, and even took on the star assignments. And he did it so technically well at this level for someone with so little top-level or even second level experience.
Craig now needs to shoot better. The 38.6% shooting of his G-League season did not translate to the Nuggets, and while he did not hurt the team offensively (playing within his limitations), simply moving the ball and straight-line driving will not get it done. He needs to hit the spot-ups and cut more for Jokic feeds. That jump shot needs to appear. But whether it does or it doesn’t, Craig will draw value on the market for the defensive profile alone. He has already had a better Nuggets career than Yakhouba Diawara.
Player Plan: Expiring two-way contract. Will command full contracts on the market - match them unless it gets silly.
