Denver Nuggets: 5 options for pick No. 13 in 2017 NBA Draft
Denver Nuggets
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Barring any trades, the Denver Nuggets know for certain that they will make the 13th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Let's rank the options that could still be available.
The Denver Nuggets don't have many holes to plug on their roster, but the potential departure of Danilo Gallinari means the wing spot could become an immediate priority for the front office.
The 2017 NBA Draft might be the perfect place for a team with Denver's timeline to fill that vacancy, and as Gary Harris represented the franchise at lottery night, the front office crossed its fingers for a miracle.
With the slimmest possibility of receiving the third overall pick in play, the idea of grabbing a dynamic wing like Josh Jackson or Jayson Tatum had every Nuggets fan's mouth watering. But the odds of jumping up were never in their favor. It was no surprise to hear the Nuggets called when the 13th spot in the draft was filled.
Denver still have a great opportunity to add even more young talent to their team with the 13th pick. But an opportunity to move into the top-10 would be hard to pass on should it present itself. Perhaps that's why general manager Tim Connelly is reportedly looking into doing just that.
Would it be worth it for Denver to move up? They might consider moving their own pick, a veteran like Wilson Chandler, and/or a prospect like one of their young guards or Juan Hernangomez. The right package could give them a shot at drafting players like Jonathan Isaac, Lauri Markkanen or Zach Collins.
But it's still too early to tell if moving up is possible, or what exactly the asking price would be. For now, it should be expected that Denver will indeed use that 13th pick.
Connelly and his staff have several different paths they could take. They could look to fill their potential biggest need at small forward, but they could also go the route of looking for the right backup center to play behind Nikola Jokic. Such a move could allow Denver to move on from restricted free agent Mason Plumlee this offseason.
There's also the philosophy of drafting talent over need — something we saw Connelly embrace when he selected a point guard with the seventh overall pick for the second draft in a row last year.
There appears to be little consensus as to which prospect fits best in Denver. By MileHighSports.com's count, six different writers have the Nuggets taking five different players across four different positions in the latest round of mock drafts. For your convenience, we've compiled one list of Denver's top five options that could still be available at No. 13.
5. John Collins, PF, Wake Forest
One of the names that you're less likely to see Denver taking in mock drafts is John Collins. The big man out of Wake Forest averaged 19.2 points per game on 62.4 percent shooting in the 2016-17 season. He grabbed 9.8 total rebounds as well, 3.8 of them coming on the offensive end.
According to Draft Express, Collins measured in at 6'9 1/2″ and 225 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine. 6'9″ is a serviceable height for a college big, and Collins spent a lot of time playing center at Wake. But when you factor in his 6'11" wingspan, his position at the professional level comes into question. He's listed as a power forward in draft profiles.
Collins is explosive—he boasts a 33″ standing vertical—but as the guys at Draft Express point out, he might be not be big or long enough to assume the center position when his team utilizes a small-ball lineup.
Shooting 62.4 percent from the field is a stat that jumps off the page, but it's not a number that he is likely to maintain in the pros. Consider this excerpt from NBA.com's Josh Cohen:
"[Collins] doesn't have much of an offensive repertoire (not much range, not a threat when he faces up) … [but] He has a nice jump hook and can spin away from a defender. He's not bulky enough to back down opponents but he's long enough to shoot over them."
Shooting over defenders will get harder for Collins in the NBA, where he will be on the smaller side for a big. While Cohen's opinion should be valued more highly than the one being offered here, it's also worth pointing out that Collins isn't actually that long. 6'11" is not an exceptional wingspan for someone of his size.
The upside here is Collins' explosiveness. He's not the largest or strongest big in this draft, but he's certainly got the ups to finish around the rim at the NBA level. This guy inhales boards and injects energy into his team with his athleticism. Collins was considered one of the premier offensive threats in the pick-and-roll in all of college basketball, and he's also got some soft hands.
A player with those traits could help the Nuggets, but his biggest weakness might be defense—something Denver needs desperately. Plus, adding Collins to the roster doesn't fill any outstanding needs.
Limited shooter, great rebounder and exceptional leaper at the power forward position. Sound familiar? It should. Denver already has that type of player in Kenneth Faried, and Chandler and Hernangomez provide depth at the same position. This is why Collins falls all the way down to No. 5 on this list.
4. Justin Patton, C, Creighton
Creighton's big man Justin Patton has evolved from a relative unknown to arguably the best prospect coming out of the Big East. Patton isn't as polished as Collins or some of the other big men in this draft. But he's young, and he's got upside for days.
Draft Express touts his rim running ability and notes that he rated higher than most college centers in points per possession while in transition. He moves well for a player that measured at 6'11" at the draft combine.
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Patton doesn't come close to matching Collins' vertical, but he doesn't have to with his 7'3″ wingspan and 9'3 1/2″ standing reach. His arms serve as tentacles, and he's an adroit finisher on lob attempts despite his limited vertical ability.
Some mock drafts have Patton going 17th in the draft, while Draft Express projects him to go 19th. Then there's Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com, who sees Patton going to Denver at No. 13, citing his "undeniably high ceiling."
The ceiling may be undeniably high, but the fit in Denver is a different story. The intrigue in Patton lies in his potential to develop into a dynamic scorer at the next level. Denver doesn't need a center who might explode offensively over time, as they have a budding superstar in Nikola Jokic.
Denver needs a player who is a high impact defender and can get after it on the glass. Those things happen to be two of Patton's bigger weaknesses.
It should be reiterated that Connelly is not afraid to draft the best available player and stockpile talent. But the Nuggets are overflowing with potential. Denver isn't drafting in the top-five here, they should be valuing fit and context over raw talent in this draft.
Patton might have the most upside of the remaining players when Denver goes on the clock, but he'll be woefully underprepared to fit Denver's needs at the backup center position. He's a top option, but Denver can do better.
3. Jarrett Allen, C, Texas
If Denver really wants to draft a backup big, then Jarrett Allen might just be the guy. The true freshman out of Texas boasts Patton's size (6'10 1/4″ , 9'1 1/2″ standing reach , 7'5″ 1/4 wingspan) and Collins' athleticism (31.5″ vertical). He's an animal on the glass, has a variety of post moves, and has a higher defensive upside than the other two bigs.
Allen has inferior stats to Patton and Collins, but he's younger, and his team was awful. It wouldn't be fair to expect great numbers from the 19-year-old. He's got a lot of upside, and he has the type of frame that has to excite Steve Hess, Denver's legendary head of strength and conditioning.
According to Draft Express:
"A large part of the appeal with Allen surrounds his physical profile. Despite standing just 6'9 without shoes, a hair short for a center, he has a tremendous 7'5 ¼ wingspan, a 9'1 ½ standing reach, gigantic hands, and a 234 pound frame that will fill out nicely in time."
Drafting a backup center may seem like a waste with a star like Jokic and reinforcements in Faried and Plumlee, but Denver is in dire need of a defensive-minded big. Plumlee never ended up providing the rim protection the Nuggets needed, and was less than inspirational on offense. He proved to be ineffective when used beside the large Serbian.
As he enters restricted free agency, the Nuggets may be forced to match a contract they'd rather not. Letting him walk could become an option if a guy like Allen is available at No. 13. Denver would benefit greatly from his defensive upside and ability to grab boards when Jokic hits the bench. Ideally, he could also play alongside him in limited minutes.
The latter is where it gets harder to justify Allen as Denver's guy. He does his best work in the paint, and while he possesses some touch, he's hardly a stretch-4. Denver already learned the hard way that you can't just jam two bigs down low in the modern NBA. If Allen seems like the right fit to you, you're likely thinking that he won't see much time on the floor with Jokic.
All of these aforementioned players are worth considering for Denver, but it will be hard to justify selecting a big if the next two wings are available.
2. Justin Jackson, SF, UNC
In the days of one-and-dones, Jackson is a bit of an anomaly. Highly recruited out of high school, he underwhelmed at UNC, never developing into a true star at the collegiate level.
Most top recruits bolt after their freshman year, but Jackson stuck around until his junior year. He improved each year, before finishing his college career as an integral part of of a national championship team.
Jackson averaged 18.4 points on 51 percent from two and 36.8 percent from three in the 2016/17 season. He stepped up when it mattered most too, jumping his scoring average up to 19.5 points per game during the tournament.
Jackson is underwhelming physically when compared to the other prospects on this list. At 6'8 1/4″, Jackson only weighs 201 pounds, and his standing vertical is under 30 inches. He lacks both the size and athleticism to excel at the next level.
But what he lacks in physicality he makes up for with experience. Of all the likely options for Denver at 13th, he is the oldest by far, and has the most experience in big games, while experiencing the most success as a national champion. He loves the big stage, as further evidenced by his career-high 34-point game against a sixth-ranked Kentucky team back in 2016.
Jackson scores well, but he's a smart passer and his ability and willingness to move the ball reflects on his above-average basketball IQ. But his skill is still a bit of a question mark, and his shooting is relatively concerning.
Denver is looking to surround Jokic with spot-up shooters, and Jackson's 37 percent from deep with the much closer line in college is discouraging. But the good news is that he's improved his shooting considerably with each year.
It makes a ton of sense for the Nuggets to draft a wing player, and Jackson would certainly fit the bill. CBSSports.com's Reid Forgrave sees him going to Denver, and notes his improvement as an appealing factor:
"Jackson is a reminder that college players can develop at different rates, and that shouldn't be considered a bad thing. A 3-point shot that had been inconsistent for his first two seasons stabilized his junior year, and Jackson became the versatile and athletic go-to guy for a national championship team."
But Jackson seems be the conservative selection at the wing position. He's got experience, he is improving steadily, and he's probably more NBA ready than some other late-lottery prospects, but his ceiling seems low considering his physical limitations and disappointing shooting numbers.
Some have described him as a possible stretch-4 in small-ball lineups, but Jackson just seems too small to be able to impact the game defensively as a 4.
He climbs all the way up to No. 2 on this list because of his experience, and the position that he plays. But if Denver is indeed looking to draft a wing player, then they should hope this next guy is still available.
Denver Nuggets
Jan 18, 2017; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard Tony Carr (10) shoots the ball as Indiana Hoosiers forward OG Anunoby (3) defends during the first half at Bryce Jordan Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports
1. OG Anunoby, SF, Indiana
If Danilo Gallinari does in fact leave Denver, then the Nuggets will have two glaring needs: find a new wing, and improve defensively. Tim Connelly can kill two birds with one stone by drafting Indiana's OG Anunoby.
He's a physical stud, and a workhorse on the basketball court. He's got possibly the highest defensive upside of any non-big in the draft, and it's hard not to view him as the top target for Denver.
ESPN's Chad Ford agrees, and he sends Anunoboy to the Nuggets with the 13th pick in his latest mock draft. That's also where Draft Express has him slotted. What Jackson lacks physically, Anunoby has in abundance. He weighed in at 231 pounds while measuring a hair under 6'8″ at the combine. Two words come to mind with this dude: strength and explosiveness.
Anunoby already has a head start on his peers in terms of filling out his frame. It's easy to imagine him developing into quite the physical specimen under a professional strength and conditioning staff.
Per Draft Express:
"Anunoby has an elite physical profile for a NBA combo forward, standing 6'8″ in shoes, with a chiseled frame and a reported 7'6″ wingspan that will easily allow him to play power forward or even spend time at the center position in smaller lineups. He moves like a wing, being light on his feet and capable of playing above the rim impressively in space, as he demonstrated with a number of powerful highlight-reel caliber finishes over the past two years."
The explosiveness however, is less of a guarantee.
A torn ACL ended Anunoby's sophomore season early, and that may be the reason he slips all the way down to No. 13, if he does. Not every player can recover from such an injury and regain their explosiveness; there is certainly some risk in drafting a player fresh off an injury like that.
He's limited offensively too. The former Hoosier is athletic enough to attack the rim on and off ball, but he's not a shot creator and his jumper leaves plenty to be desired. Anunoby only shot 31.1 percent from deep in his second season, and he only attempted 7.6 field goals a game. The jumper might develop, but there's a defined ceiling to his offensive game. It's the defensive upside that makes him so valuable.
Anunoby has the foot speed to guard multiple positions on the perimeter, and the strength to guard both forward positions. Some have gone as far as to say he can guard smaller centers. But that seems like a stretch given his listed height.
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Regardless, this guy is a terror on the defensive end. According to Draft Express, Anunoby averaged 2.1 steals and 2.1 blocks per 40 minutes in his sophomore campaign.
He does have a distinct advantage on Jackson in terms of the physical profile. But he lacks Jackson's experience and his IQ, and he's known to gamble for bad steals. Anunoby has all of the tools to be an excellent defender at the next level, but he's one of the more raw prospects in the draft. Thankfully, the Nuggets have time to allow him to develop.
The upside of Patton is intriguing, and the athleticism of Collins is mouth watering. Allen can move too, and his rebounding ability is certainly appealing, while Jackson is probably the most ready to step right in and make an immediate impact. Denver have a lot of great options at No. 13, but Anunoby makes the most sense.
Plugging him in should improve this team defensively not just next year, but for years to come as they continue to develop their stable of young talent. If Anunoby is still available when the Nuggets make their selection, then it's his name they should call.
