Lauvergne scored 18 points (6-7 FG, 6-7 FT) and grabbed eight rebounds in18 minutes in a win over Chicago on Thursday.

Lauvergne has been one of the surprises of the preseason, as he has started both games and posted strong lines. In his two starts, Lauvergne has 32 points and 20 rebounds while shooting 12-for-15 from the field. Considering the big man can shoot threes to go along with his rebounding abilities, Lauvergne will be an interesting sleeper going into fantasy drafts this year, if he can capture that starting role.

Lauvergne made the start at center in Tuesday's preseason win over the Mavericks, finishing the evening with 14 points (6-8 FG, 2-2 3Pt) and 12 rebounds.

The 2013 second-round pick entered training camp with rather modest expectations, but he's taken full advantage of Jusuf Nurkic's (knee) expected absence to open the season. After notching 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting to go along with 11 boards in the preseason opener, Lauvergne replaced J.J. Hickson in the starting lineup Tuesday and rattled off another double-double in impressive fashion. Preseason numbers should usually be taken with a grain of salt, but Lauvergne's production relative to his competition (Hickson and Nikola Jokic) is becoming too sizable to ignore. Continue to monitor the Nuggets' preseason contests to see how the job battle shakes out, but at this juncture, Lauvergne looks like he could be a worthy end-game target for those in deeper leagues.

Lauvergne has made the French National Team's final 12-man roster for EuroBasket 2015, FIBA.com reports.

Lauvergne was bothered by a blood infection before the Las Vegas Summer League in July, forcing him to play through a sore foot and general weakness during the tournament. He ended up playing in four games at the summer league, averaging 11.0 points, 0.2 three-pointers, 8.0 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 0.2 steals in 23 minutes per game. It'll be interesting to see how many minutes Lauvergne gets on a stacked French team at EuroBasket. He's likely going to struggle to find time at the forward spots for the Nuggets this season, but with a new coach in town (Mike Malone), Lauvergne may get an opportunity to impress his new coach and earn some unexpected minutes this season.

Lauvergne has been limited by a blood infection that developed over the past week, the Denver Post reports. "I'm just getting back to practice day by day. I start to get better every day," Lauvergne said. "My foot keeps hurting me, but I don't feel weak like a few days ago, so that's better."

The infection was very likely caused from bacteria buildup in his toes, according to team doctors. The Nuggets are slated to compete in the Las Vegas Summer League beginning Friday, and it's unknown if Lauvergne will participate. He's coming off a season where he averaged 3.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 11 minutes per game for the Nuggets after joining the team post-All-Star break.

Lauvergne posted 3.9 points (40% FG, 19% 3Pt, 64% FT), 3.2 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.4 blocks in 11 minutes per game during 24 regular season games in 2014-15.

The 23-year-old from France has reportedly been working out at the Nuggets' Pepsi Center in June, and he'll likely receive plenty of burn for the Nuggets' Summer League team in July. Lauvergne is under contract with the Nuggets through 2017-18.

Lauvergne put up six points and four rebounds in 11 minutes off the bench during Wednesday's game against the Timberwolves.

Lauvergne saw his first-career start against the Jazz on Friday but has recently moved back to his normal role off the bench. It would be somewhat surprising if Lauvergne saw another crack at the starting lineup as he'll likely be limited off the bench moving forward.

Lauvergne will not start Sunday's game against the Pelicans, Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post reports.

Lauvergne got his first career start in Friday's loss to the Jazz, finishing with nine points, six rebounds, a block and three turnovers in 26 minutes. He'll head back to the bench Sunday night, as the Nuggets will use a small starting lineup consisting of Ty Lawson, Randy Foye, Ganilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Kenneth Faried.

Lauvergne started Friday in a loss to the Jazz, and finished the game with just nine points (3-8 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-6 FT), six rebounds and a block in 26 minutes.

Although Kenneth Faried (thumb) was available again, Lauvergne got the nod to start. He put up solid numbers for a guy who was just signed by the Nuggets on Feb. 19. However, he finished with a team-worst plus/minus of -36 in the game. Faried will likely return to the starting lineup in the coming games.

Lauvergne will be in the starting lineup against the Jazz on Friday, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.

Lauvergne will get the rare start Friday as Kenneth Faried (thumb) will make his return to the court off the bench. However, it would be somewhat surprising if Lauvergne saw extended time in the starting lineup moving forward this season.

Lauvergne had 11 points (4-7 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 2-5 FT), nine rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in 26 minutes against the Suns on Wednesday.

Not bad for a guy in just his third NBA game. His lines have improved each game, as has his minutes. He's had nine rebounds in each of his last two, and he might be someone to keep an eye on if he can continue to garner minutes in the Nuggets' rotation.

Lauvergne signed with the Nuggets on Thursday, NBA.com reports.

Lauvergne was selected 55th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Grizzlies, but his rights were promptly exchanged to the Nuggets. Before leaving Khimki Moscow in early February, the 23-year-old Frenchman averaged 9.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 18 minutes across 27 games (seven starts). With the trio of Kenneth Faried, J.J. Hickson, and Darrell Arthur situated in the frontcourt, Lauvergne will likely find minutes difficult to come by.

Lauvergne is leaving Khimki Moscow, Eurobasket.com reports.

Lauvergne's draft rights are held by the Nuggets, so it would be up to the Nuggets whether or not to bring him over for this season. With the team in flux, it's possible they'd be interested in bringing over some new blood, but there's been no indication from the Nuggets that they plan to sign Lauvergne. In 13 games with Moscow this season, he averaged 7.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 0.3 three-pointers, 1.1 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 18 minutes per game. He's projected to be a stretch power forward in the NBA, with Vlad Radmanovic being one of his most common comps, a sobering comparison.

The Denver Nuggets hope to bring Frenchman Joffrey Lauvergne from overseas for next season.

"It is true that the Nuggets want to sign Joffrey Lauvergne," said Lauvergne's agent Misko Raznatovic. "But also some other important teams are eyeing Lauvergne. According to NBA Rules, official negotiations can start from July 1." He was a second round draft pick in 2013 by the Grizzlies, who later traded his rights to the Nuggets. He has been playing for Partizan Belgrade of the Serbian League since 2012.

The Nuggets are pleased with the development of second-round draft pick Joffrey Lauvergne, a 6'11" PF who is averaging 11.4 points and 8.9 rebounds with Partizan Belgrade.

The 22-year-old has enough athleticism and shooting range to make a dent whenever he jumps to the NBA, but he's a long way from having fantasy relevance. We'll keep an eye on him during the offseason, as the Nuggets hope to continue evaluating him during Summer League.