Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Nuggets salvaged shooting guard Randy Foye after starter Andre Iguodala left the team to play for the Golden State Warriors this offseason. While Foye is a decent consolation prize for Iguodala, he shouldn’t get major minutes from coach Brian Shaw in the 2013-14 season.
One of the biggest issues the Nuggets needed to address from last season was their poor three point shooting. Foye has a good career percentage from beyond the arc at 37.7, but he has the lowest field-goal percentage (39.5) in the past three seasons of anyone taking at least 1,800 shots.
Foye can provide some shooting from beyond the arc, but he can’t do much else. Last season, Foye averaged 2.0 assists in 27.4 minutes for the Utah Jazz. The 29-year-old also has the second-lowest rebound percentage in the NBA in the past three seasons.
Evan Fournier should start at the 2-guard for the Nuggets in 2013-14. The second-year man showed signs of brilliance at the end of last season. In 11.3 minutes, Fournier averaged 5.3 points on 40.7 percent shooting from three in his rookie season.
In the 2013 NBA Summer League, Fournier averaged 9.3 points in six games. He played his best game against the Chicago Bulls when he dropped 20 points finishing 4-for-8 from three.
The Frenchman needs playing time to continue to grow. Fournier is only 20-years-old. If he sees more minutes he will develop into a key player for the Nuggets by the end of the season.
Foye has jumped around the league in his seven years in the NBA.
He played three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, one with the Washington Wizards, two for the Los Angeles Clippers and one with the Jazz. Foye has the ability to add points from long distance but lacks any other valuable assets–making him expendable for most teams in the league.
If Shaw has the ability to mold young players, he needs to start Fournier. Keep Foye as a role-player.
Jordan Morey is a Denver Nuggets writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
