Harrison Wind: Monte Morris on Mason Plumlee and Torrey Craig attending Team USA Training Camp: “I think it’s phenomenal…. Them bringing that knowledge from USA Training Camp, if they can bring that to our training camp and teach me some more things about the game, that I’m looking forward to.”
Torrey Craig Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: G
Born: 12/19/90
Height: 6-6 / 1.98
Weight:215 lbs. / 97.5 kg.
Salary: $2,000,000
Born: 12/19/90
Height: 6-6 / 1.98
Weight:215 lbs. / 97.5 kg.
Salary: $2,000,000
Brian Windhorst: Julius Randle has withdrawn from Team USA training camp due to a family issue. The Nuggets’ Torrey Craig has been added to the Select Team to replace Landry Shamet. Players report tomorrow in Vegas.
Michael Singer: Hood is walking off gingerly and headed to the locker room. Torrey Craig caught him with a backscreen.
10 May
Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN Staff Writer: Michael Malone says he still had to see what happened that led to a scuffle resulting in technical fouls for Seth Curry and Will Barton and Torrey Craig and Zach Collins. But Malone added that he hopes both teams are at full strength for Game 7 and that there are no suspensions after it is reviewed by the league.
Jokic finished with 21 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, with no pass bigger than the one to set up Murray’s floater. DeMar DeRozan had a chance to slice into the deficit but was blocked by Torrey Craig. With time running out, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich yelled and yelled for someone to commit a foul, just to prolong the game. The roar was too loud. The Nuggets were able to essentially run out the time and begin their celebration. “After the game you’re thinking, ‘Why didn’t they foul?'” Craig said. Easy: It was just too loud. Denver went an NBA-best 34-7 at home in the regular season and rode the energy of the packed house all the way to the end. “I missed it,” LaMarcus Aldridge said of Popovich calling a foul. “That’s it.”
Harrison Wind: Pop on Torrey Craig: “There’s always someobody that steps up in the playoffs, and he’s stepped up. That’s just the way it is…” pic.twitter.com/ruLBGNrWdP
So when spring 2017 rolled around and Tim Connelly — he had been watching Craig’s games online upon his brother’s insistence a year before making the trip to see him in person — offered a chance to play for the Nuggets in Las Vegas, it wasn’t as simple as leaping up and signing on the dotted line. “It was definitely a tough decision because I was on the verge of getting my citizenship in Australia,” Craig said. “I had been there for three years already and I had to stay in the country to get it. If you leave, you’re kind of forfeiting all that, so it’s almost like you did all that for nothing. I was contemplating all of that.”
When Craig was 5 years old, his mother, Teresa Mays, was incarcerated in federal prison after being convicted of drug charges. As Craig grew up in the southern rural town of Great Falls, S.C., raised by his grandmother, Daisy Mays, and his older sister, Sacha, he would write his mother letters and tell her that he was going to make it to the NBA; that he couldn’t wait for her to see him play.
So when spring 2017 rolled around and Tim Connelly — he had been watching Craig’s games online upon his brother’s insistence a year before making the trip to see him in person — offered a chance to play for the Nuggets in Las Vegas, it wasn’t as simple as leaping up and signing on the dotted line. “It was definitely a tough decision because I was on the verge of getting my citizenship in Australia,” Craig said. “I had been there for three years already and I had to stay in the country to get it. If you leave, you’re kind of forfeiting all that, so it’s almost like you did all that for nothing. I was contemplating all of that.”
When Craig was 5 years old, his mother, Teresa Mays, was incarcerated in federal prison after being convicted of drug charges. As Craig grew up in the southern rural town of Great Falls, S.C., raised by his grandmother, Daisy Mays, and his older sister, Sacha, he would write his mother letters and tell her that he was going to make it to the NBA; that he couldn’t wait for her to see him play.
In his first-ever NBA playoff start, Craig was a significant reason why the Nuggets finally ended their seven-year winless run at the Spurs’ AT&T Center in a 117-103 victory. Craig was a force on both sides of the floor for Denver, finishing the game with 18 points, eight rebounds and two steals on 66.7 percent shooting – including 5 of 7 from downtown. Not bad for a player who was on a two-way contract just a year ago. Craig acknowledged after the game that with the Nuggets down 2-1 in the first round series against the Spurs, the team couldn’t afford to fall to 3-1. “I just came out here and tried to play with confidence,” Craig said. “I knew we were in a tough situation and we really needed this win. I just tried to play with a lot of confidence and a lot of energy.”
Harrison Wind: New story: Spoke with Will Barton, who was benched tonight for Torrey Craig, following the Nuggets’ Game 4 win. He didn’t hide his frustration with Michael Malone’s decision: “I don’t agree with it, and I told him that face to face,” Barton told @BSNDenver bsndenver.com/i-dont-agree-w…
Nick Kosmider: Michael Malone told @Jason Kosmicki that Torrey Craig was playing through the flu last night. Will be interesting to see what he can give tonight. Has been Denver’s most effective weapon against Russell Westbrook.
Harrison Wind: Torrey Craig is active tonight for the Nuggets.
Harrison Wind: Nuggets listing Torrey Craig (shoulder sprain) as questionable for tomorrow’s matchup vs. the Pacers. Michael Porter Jr. (back) remains out. Trey Lyles is off the injury report.
Chris Dempsey: #Nuggets POBO, Tim Connelly, on his team’s All-Star representation: “So excited for Nikola, but he shouldn’t be our only player in Charlotte. Jamal’s personal & team success made him worthy. And the impact Monte and Torrey have made merited a spot in the Rising Stars Challenge.”
Was the lockdown defense during the first 10 weeks of the season the real life? Or was it just fantasy? “I mean, it’s a tough league,” replied Craig, whose Nuggets (31-15) host Phoenix (11-38) at 7 on Friday night at the Pepsi Center to start a weekend back-to-back that includes a visit from Philadelphia (32-17) on Saturday. “Teams are really good. Teams are going to score the ball.”
“I think we had to play eight games in 11 days or something, or eight games in 12 (this month),” said Craig, who collected seven points and eight rebounds in 38 minutes against Utah. “So after a while, it’s effort, it’s being tired, mentally, physically. (You) just have to stay locked in and push through it.”
Brendan Vogt: Jokic was asked about he and Craig comparing dunks after the win: “Mine was much better. Just because he jumps high doesn’t mean—I don’t know, mine was poetry in motion.”
Michael Singer: Nuggets starting Torrey Craig in place of Gary Harris vs. Magic.
Duvalier Johnson: Torrey Craig is starting in place of Gary Harris who is out tonight against the #Lakers.
Harrison Wind: Injury report for Nuggets/Pels: Torrey Craig (left hamstring tightness) is questionable. Barton, Thomas, Porter Jr, Vanderbilt are all out. Denver has also recalled two-way rookie Thomas Welsh from the G League. Elfrid Payton (finger) is out for New Orleans.
Nick Kosmider: Michael Malone is adjusting his starting lineup tonight. Juancho Hernangomez will start for Torrey Craig as Denver tries to reverse a trend of slow starts.
Harrison Wind: As expected, Will Barton (right hip/core strain) will miss the Nuggets’ matchup Tuesday vs. Kings. I’d expect Torrey Craig to continue to start at small forward.
Harrison Wind: Nuggets announce that they’ve signed Torrey Craig to a multi-year contract. “We are thrilled to have Torrey back on our roster,” said Tim Connelly. “His journey to the NBA was an atypical one and this contract is a testament to his tremendous work ethic and drive.”
Nick Kosmider: The Nuggets officially announce they have resigned free-agent forward Torrey Craig.
Harrison Wind: Sources: Torrey Craig turned down more money to remain a Denver Nuggets and re-up with the franchise that took a chance on him after he played the 2016-17 season in Australia. His two-year, $4 million deal has no options @BSNDenver
Shams Charania: The Denver Nuggets are signing forward/guard Torrey Craig to a guaranteed two-year, $4M deal, agent Johnny Foster tells Yahoo.
Harrison Wind: Nuggets will host Perth Wildcats for a preseason game on 10/5 at Pepsi Center. Perth is in the same league that Torrey Craig played in last season before joining Denver. Last year, Perth was led by Bryce Cotton — an NBA-level guard who’s had a couple brief stints in the league.
Gina Mizell: Can confirm via a league source that the #Nuggets have extended a qualifying offer to wing Torrey Craig, which will officially make him a restricted free agent. He proved himself on a two-way contract last season.
Chris Dempsey: Incidentally, the #Nuggets also have to extend a qualifying offer to breakout F Torrey Craig, which will make him a restricted free agent and give the Nuggets a right to match any offer made to him. He played under a two-way contract in 2017-18.
With the Nuggets, Karnisovas has helped construct a roster of players who combine a specific physical profile, versatile skill set and intangibles such as drive and selflessness. He continues to relish the bonds he’s built in a job he estimates is 80 percent human interaction. And, naturally, Denver’s current group is filled with international flavor. Point guard Jamal Murray and reserve forward Trey Lyles were born in Canada. Two-way wing Torrey Craig was discovered playing professionally in Australia. And the Serbian Nikola Jokic has blossomed from a relatively unknown second-round pick into one of the most versatile big men in the game. “Arturas was the one who was wanting it more for me to come here, so it’s kind of cool,” Jokic said. “He’s European, and he knows how European basketball (works). He played with some Serbian players. He knows our mentality. Of course he can help me a lot, just adapting to the basketball (in the NBA).”
But Torrey Craig, as has always been the case in his professional basketball career, will now be waiting for a call, ready to hop on a flight, however cramped, at a moment’s notice. “I have no clue,” Craig said when asked about his immediate future. “I really don’t. It’s been a roller-coaster of a season with a contract and the way things have gone, but now that it’s over I don’t know what to expect and I don’t know what will happen, so I’ll just wait and see.”
Rookie wing Torrey Craig parlayed his two-way contract with Denver into a rotation role. But his deal was for one season, meaning he has “no clue” what the future holds for him with the Nuggets — or in the NBA. “I really don’t,” Craig said. “ … Now that this is over, I don’t know what to expect. I don’t know what’s gonna happen. Just gonna wait and see.”
TJ McBride: Torrey Craig says he has no idea what the future holds for him, but that he would like to be in Denver. It does seem like there is mutual interest and the #Nuggets need wing depth.
TJ McBride: Torrey Craig wore a hat that said “salty” on it to his final media availability. He was asked if his hat describes the mood. “Pretty much. It’s a bitter feeling.”
Harrison Wind: Nuggets two-way player Torrey Craig is at the arena but won’t be active tonight, Michael Malone says. Craig will be with the team for the remainder of the season but that doesn’t mean he’ll play. The G League season ends March 24 – that’s when his days are no longer a factor.
Harrison Wind: Nuggets have transferred two-way player Torrey Craig from Sioux Falls. Denver’s other two-way player Monte Morris is also with the team in LA.
Gina Mizell: Two-way wing Torrey Craig, who’s been battling a strained hamstring, has been sent back to the G League. Preserves his 45 days w/#Nuggets while getting back in game shape. Michael Malone says the plan is to keep Craig down there for a week or so.
Gina Mizell: Not surprisingly, Michael Malone did not have an update on Paul Millsap’s status for tonight’s game against the Clippers. But Malone said Torrey Craig (hamstring) will NOT play tonight. #Nuggets
Harrison Wind: Paul Millsap (left wrist) has been upgraded to questionable for Tuesday vs Clipper. Torrey Craig also questionable.
Harrison Wind: Nuggets coach Michael Malone today on Torrey Craig, who’s battling a left hamstring strain – “I’m surprised its taken this long… I think it was in that last Houston game…he continued to push, push, push and I think he really reaggravated it.”
Harrison Wind: Mason Plumlee (right calf strain) is expected to play Friday vs Spurs but is listed as probable. Two-way player Torrey Craig (left hamstring strain) is out.
Gina Mizell: Michael Malone revealed during his pregame availability that Torrey Craig, who has not been listed on any injury report for the past two games, has a groin/hamstring injury and they wanted to rest him before the break. He is not in Milwaukee. #Nuggets
Gina Mizell: Torrey Craig is not active for the #Nuggets tonight. Team is trying to milk his 45 days. Jamal Murray is available and in the starting lineup.
Harrison Wind: Nuggets President of Basketball Ops Tim Connelly just spoke with the media here at Pepsi Center. Pretty much ruled out Denver being a player in the buyout market. Also had some comments about Torrey Craig’s two-way status going forward. Full update to come.
TJ McBride: Malone was clear that he wants Torrey Craig to be signed to the full-time roster. “He is a valuable player… You have a trade deadline coming up. If you can create a roster spot, can you resign Torrey Craig for he rest of the year? For me, as a coach, that would be ideal.”
Harrison Wind: Nuggets have transferred two-way player Torrey Craig back to Sioux Falls. Craig spent 3 days with Denver. Under his two-way contract, he can be with the team for a total of 45 days this year.
The workouts are being treated as a mini camp and were organized by Millsap, sources said. The 32-year-old, who signed a three-year $90 million contract with Denver this summer, played for the Hawks for the past four seasons and spends much of his offseason in Atlanta. Monte Morris and Torrey Craig, who both signed two-way contracts with Denver this offseason, are in attendance as well.
