David Adelman admits he’s still figuring Nuggets’ bench bunch

David Adelman knows DeMar DeRozan will be part of the Nuggets’ second unit. Figuring out who belongs alongside him is taking a little more work.

Denver’s coach is still sorting through his bench combinations, with two preseason games remaining and a preference to let the reserves handle their own minutes.

“The starters will be fine. I do not want to play a starter with the second unit if I don’t have to to start the season,” Adelman said Tuesday, via Logan Struck of Nuggets On SI. “That’s the goal right now.”

DeRozan gives that group an established scorer to build around. The question is how much offense and defense Adelman wants surrounding him.

“I thought Bryce [Hopkins] and Alpha [Diallo] were pretty good in the last game,” he said. “But you have to complement that with guys you can run offense through. I think that’s going to be the balancing act for us. DeMar [DeRozan]’s gonna play, and what do you put around him?”

Adelman mentioned Tyus Jones and Marvin Bagley III working in pick-and-roll actions, with DeRozan providing an isolation option. Spencer Jones factors into the defensive equation when he returns.

Then there’s Julian Strawther, whose shooting could complement those players. Diallo, Hopkins and Cam Whitmore give Denver other possibilities, depending on what a particular lineup needs.

So this is about more than picking a 10th man. Adelman wants a bench that can function without borrowing a starter. DeRozan gives him a place to begin, but the supporting cast still needs sorting.