#NuggetsRank No. 7: Wilson Chandler

October 18, 2012
by Kalen

No. 7 on Roundball Mining Company’s #NuggetsRank series is none other than Wilson Chandler. After coming to Denver in the winter of 2011, Chandler has spent much of his Nuggets career either sidelined due to injury or overseas. While many Nuggets fans love the versatility Chandler brings to the table, some feel his role on the team has been slipping ever since he arrived in Denver. But whatever side of the argument you fall on, there’s no denying that Chandler is one of the more talented players on the entire roster.

The fascinating thing about Wilson Chandler is, interestingly enough, the fact that there’s still so much about him we don’t understand. He’s a lot like the ocean. He’s visible. We can grasp the basics of who he is. But we still haven’t seen deepest aspects of his game — how he plays under pressure, through adversity and in the spotlight. He’s never really had the chance to do that in Denver. Most of the time he’s injured and when he’s not he’s stuck behind Danilo Gallinari, being short changed on minutes. This will be the third year Chandler dons a Nuggets uniform, yet he’s played less than 30 games over that period of time.

Chandler’s best stretch as a pro came in 2010 while still with the Knicks. In 51 games prior to the All-Star break he averaged roughly 16 points, six rebounds, two assists, 1.5 blocks and .7 steals per game. During that time he saw an average of 35 minutes per game — or, starter minutes. From October to December Chandler scored at least 20 points on more than 15 different occasions and in December alone he averaged 19 points per game. In fact, through the first three months of 2010-11 season while still with the Knicks, Chandler actually outperformed Gallinari when given about the same amount of court time.

The point is: Like any player in the NBA, Chandler is at his best when he’s getting a steady dose of heavy minutes. Those minutes, however, have evaded him while in Denver. This isn’t his fault, nor the fault of the coaches. Chandler simply hasn’t been able to stay healthy long enough to establish himself as a critical cog in the rotation. If he ever does regain his health Denver will be a much more dangerous team, especially off the bench. Chandler’s defense, versatility and ability to score are integral parts of the Nuggets overall identity.

In the meantime, Chandler and his fans will do what they’ve done all along since his arrival in Denver: wait. Let’s just hope that this time, that wait pays off.

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Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:17 pm | filed in #NuggetsRank, Analysis | 16 Comments
  • Nugznazty

    iggy at the 2, chandler at 3, galo at 4 mcgee/k2 at 5.. lookin biggg

    • Evan Woodruff

      Screw it, nobody at the 1.

      • Nugznazty

        that’d be a wild season..

      • KW

        LOL

  • Z

    yeap if he’s the 7th best player on the Nuggets no need to watch the NBA the Nuggets have the best team

  • KW

    Ill Will. We don’t know you. You are #7 based on how you played on your last team. You have really never shown us anything except that you sort of wander a little on D and heave up a lot of weird shots…and you don’t get any minutes.

    I hope they trade you and Mozzy ASAP.

    Also, you should be docked a couple places for CREEPIEST TATTOO IN THE FOCKING LEAGUE.

    • NuggDr

      Hopefully RBMC will trade you for a bag of chips, not sure you’re worth that tho.

      • KW

        I have a no trade clause.

  • SmokinNugs

    ” there’s no denying that Chandler is one of the more talented players on the entire roster.”

    Sorry but I have no problem saying that Ill Will is NOT one of the more talented players on the roster. New York had no problem getting rid of him and he’s never really impressed me in a Nuggets uniform. We can talk potential all we want but while we are, REAL talent is actually out there winning games (or actually playing in them) while Wilson Chandler is not. What use is a decent player with an Andrew Bynum-eque average number of games played per season? I do not buy into the hype.

  • SmokinNugs

    Bynum-esque**

  • magster

    Actually, last season’s lack of minutes were Chandler’s fault because he chose to play in China.

  • CJP32

    I havent seen enough of Chandler in a Nuggets uniform to ‘fall in love’with the guy – to me, he’s an overpaid SF that really doesnt stand out in anything in particular. In NY he put up decent numbers and had his moments. In Denver it feels like he has watched more games than played in.

    He decided to play in China during the lockout, came back – signed a contract, got injured and is now rehabbing/practising. The shots he took vs Portland were a combination of drives and outside shooting, and he just looked rusty running back on defense.

    To be honest, Brewer would be a cheaper option and outperforms every Nugget energy/hustle wise. I would rather see Masai lock him up for 3 years at 9 million, and trade Chandler.

    • Poz_303

      After watching Brewer in the preseason, I would sign Brewer up for another three years regardless of what Nuggets do with Chandler.

      I am a Chandler fan and believe he can be a great player for the Nuggets but also accept he has done very little so far. His reasonable contract means he will always be the talk of trade rumors unless he performs exceptionally well this season.

  • Evan Woodruff

    Bring on the hate… But I actually like the Idea of a wing who can create his own shot, drain the 3, hit a mid range jumper off a catch and shoot, can drive to the basket strong, who is a decent rebounder and a very solid defender.

    And believe it or not, I’m not going to judge him off two half-seasons.

  • Marcel

    I’ve been very frustrated by the lack of commitment by Chan to the team. I understand that it was not an ideal situation for him to be here, but I seriously have felt that playing here is somehow beneath him. With that, I only see him giving 80 to 85 percent
    while he’s here, wich I don’t think is good enough

  • http://gujtop.org/top-10/top-5-mejores-recetas-de-sushi/ Sushi

    Hey there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any issues with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing several weeks of hard work due to no data backup. Do you have any methods to prevent hackers?


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