The Denver Nuggets fell short of the 2018 NBA Playoffs by the slimmest of margins and the future appears bright for the franchise. Denver has a legitimate franchise center in Nikola Jokic, a veteran All-Star forward in Paul Millsap, a multi-talented guard in Jamal Murray and all kinds of quality depth on a roster that doesn’t have a ton of holes. Of course, that is a very nice place to start but, in the same breath, the 2018 NBA Draft holds quite a bit of intrigue for the Nuggets on a number of levels.
First, Denver’s salary cap situation is such that there have been rumblings that the team could look to move its No. 14 overall pick in order to clear a contract or two before next season begins. That could be deemed necessary in order to avoid a potentially ugly luxury tax bill but, in the same breath, the Nuggets aren’t a perfect roster and it feels odd that a young team would ship a lottery pick away in the midst of building for the future.
Regardless, there are a number of moving parts, headlined by a potential max contract for Jokic, and the Nuggets are a team to watch between now and June 21. Still, Denver currently has three picks to add to an already deep roster and, in this space, we will glance at a few players that could make sense in the draft.
- Rawle Alkins – SG/SF, Arizona – Alkins isn’t a target with the No. 14 pick but, in the second round, a legitimate 3-and-D prospect can be very intriguing. He doesn’t have perfect size to defend small forwards but Alkins is a good athlete and has the feel of an NBA player. That’s not a bad recipe.
- Troy Brown – SF, Oregon – Denver’s small forward situation is a bit of a mess and Brown would make a ton of sense as a result. He plays with an off-the-charts basketball IQ, can defend multiple positions, would fit into Denver’s playing style as a passer and has five-star pedigree.
- Kevin Knox – SF/PF, Kentucky – Knox isn’t a lock to be available at No. 14 but he possesses the combination of size and skill that would make him tantalizing for a team that needs that package. He brings considerable upside on the offensive end and, in Denver, wouldn’t be thrust into a situation in which he was required to perform immediately.
- Zhaire Smith – SG/SF, Texas Tech – Like Alkins, Smith isn’t as big as the Nuggets probably would want him to be. Still, he is a lottery-ish prospect based on an outrageous athletic profile and Smith has a ton of growth potential based on where he is now when compared to his final year of high school. Measuring at 6’4 during the combine isn’t helping his prospect status but Smith is a potential monster.
- Jarred Vanderbilt – SF/PF, Kentucky – In the second round, teams can’t get too greedy. Vanderbilt is a tremendous rebounder and a great athlete, though he has some real weaknesses. Still, he would probably be a fringe first-round prospect if not for injury woes and Millsap would be a great mentor to aid in his development.
- Robert Williams – C/PF, Texas A&M – Center isn’t a need, as Jokic is a tremendous building block and the team’s best player. However, Mason Plumlee isn’t blowing anyone away and Williams could bring an element in the frontcourt that Denver simply doesn’t have. It would be a luxury pick but there is also a possibility that Williams is simply the best player available when the Nuggets pick at the end of the lottery.
