Rookie guard Emmanuel Mudiay has signed with the Denver Nuggets, the team announced on Friday.

Mudiay’s rookie scale contract is for three years, $8.1 million with a team option for a fourth year, according to an NBA source.

Mudiay, a 19-year-old, 6-foot-5, 200-pound native of Congo, was drafted No. 7 overall by the Nuggets in this year’s draft. With the trade of Ty Lawson to Houston on July 19, Mudiay is expected to be the Nuggets’ starting point guard.

At Summer League in Las Vegas, he played in four games, averaging 12 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.25 steals in 30.5 minutes of play per game.

Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly recently said he is confident Mudiay, 19, can handle the workload running coach Michael Malone’s system, especially with veteran point guard Jameer Nelson expected to lend guidance.