Michael Porter Jr. did not play for the Nuggets during NBA summer league; the first-round draft pick is still recovering from back surgery that wiped out the bulk of his only college season at Missouri. Neither did second-round selection Jarred Vanderbilt, who is still hobbled by multiple foot injuries that limited his college career at Kentucky.
Still, Denver arrived in Las Vegas with story lines to follow on the Cox Pavilion floor. Could point guard Monte Morris earn a promotion from a two-way contract to a full deal? How would Malik Beasley look in his third summer league?