Denver Stiffs - Denver Stiffs 2018 NBA Draft Story Stream

CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander: Michael Porter Jr.’s ego was (unfairly) put on trial before the draft

2018-06-22T17:23:48-06:00

Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Matt Norlander provides some insight into MPJ

Michael Porter Jr. apparently didn’t have a lot of fans in the top 13 of the NBA draft but he does have a lot of fans among NBA draft analysts, including CBS Sports senior writer Matt Norlander. Norlander, who wrote a great column this morning about the incredible upside of Denver’s 1st round draft pick, went on the Jim Rome show earlier today and sung Porter’s praises.

“The truth is, when I saw Michael Porter Jr. play before getting to Missouri, he looked like a future number one, number two, number three pick. There was just no doubt about it. He had the size, he had the skill. If you want to take some sort of level below combination of what Durant is capable of and what Jayson Tatum showed a lot of in his rookie year, Michael Porter Jr. is capable of that. He can get to the rim, he can shoot from deep, he can post up, he can face up, he handles the ball well, a pretty solid defender overall.”

But more interesting than the three straight minutes of Norlander ranting and raving about the potential of Porter Jr. was his theory about why the 6’11 scorer fell so far down draft boards in the first place.

“I find this ultra fascinating because he was a victim, I think, of some conspiracy type doubt about his injuries and then...his ego was put on trial publicly in the week leading up to this. and clearly all of this had a compound impact. It was unimaginable in October to picture Michael Porter Jr. not being a top 3 or top 4 pick at worst.”

The ego issues that Norlander is referring to include MPJ’s now famous interview in which he was asked what types of players he has been compared to. Porter responded by first saying that he has heard his game draw comparisons to Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo before saying that it was an honor to be compared to those guys. Some on social media took the opportunity to poke fun at Porter for providing his own comparison and then feeling honored by it.

It was an forgivable misunderstanding and the internet, especially social media, cares little about facts, context, or nuance. In the same way, rumors about Porter being a selfish player took on a life of their own and in the final week before last night’s draft, Porter’s reputation became a question mark in the eyes of certain analysts.

Nonetheless, Porter Jr. may have landed in a perfect spot for him and his own development as a player. The Nuggets are in no rush to get Porter on the court, seemingly willing to allow him to ease back onto the court and into the NBA at his own pace and under the advice of their medical staff. Denver also doesn’t need a savior. NIkola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Gary Harris have all established themselves as reliable young pieces of a promising core built around unselfishness and a high collective basketball IQ. Porter won’t need to be the blue-chip prospect he’s expected to be from day one and he’ll hopefully find a very important role as a part of a well-balanced roster. Said Norlander:

“What if we look four years form now, and Michael Porter Jr. is one of the top 3 prospects in this drafts. This goes down as one of the all-time gaffes by a number of franchises. And at the same time, you can’t totally blame them for doing that, but I don’t know if there is any excuse for letting him fall to the double-digits because his ceiling is so high and he has such great star potential. It’s still hard to fathom how so many teams passed on him.”

2018 NBA Draft Grades: The Denver Nuggets are big winners

2018-06-22T09:44:22-06:00

Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Even with Michael Porter Jr.’s injury concerns, the Nuggets received high grades all around

The day after the NBA draft is always interesting. The initial adrenaline rush of the draft starts to wear off, and it’s a time to seriously start looking at the picks with a more coherent view.

For the Denver Nuggets, it’s hard not to be excited about the tantalizing prospect of Michael Porter Jr., selected at 14 (!), playing alongside an already promising core of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Gary Harris and Paul Millsap. But the reality is that this may not happen right away due to Porter Jr.’s injury concerns following back surgery late last year. This make’s the selection for Denver all the more intriguing - it could be a home run, but it could also be a strikeout. We just don’t know yet.

Nuggets fans are excited, but how did the major analysts and outlets initially react to Michael Porter Jr.? The early indicators are good for Denver. Take a look below.

The Ringer: A

The slide ends for Porter, who was linked to Sacramento at no. 2 overall only a few days ago. While Porter’s surgically repaired back may keep him from ever living up to his considerable potential, the 14th pick is way past the point in the draft where he’s worth a roll of the dice. Porter, like Jamal Murray, could thrive playing off of Nikola Jokic. There were concerns about both prospects’ playmaking skills coming out of college, but it doesn’t matter next to the best passing big man of his generation.

ESPN: Big Winner

Rolling the dice on the star power of Michael Porter Jr. -- formerly projected as the No. 1 pick in the draft last summer -- makes sense here. The Nuggets have a deep roster, affording them the possibility of bringing Porter along slowly and doing whatever it takes to get his body right so he can have a long and sustainable NBA career. They should be in no rush to get him on the floor.

If Porter pans out, the Nuggets will have a star on their hands. If not, this is well worth the risk at the end of the lottery.

Bleacher Report: A-

At this stage of the draft, taking a risk on a top-shelf talent is appropriate.

That’s exactly what Michael Porter Jr. is, considering his remarkable scoring ability. Though a back injury prevented him from displaying that bucket-getting acumen during his brief Missouri career, little doubt exists that his sweet shooting stroke and comfort conducting himself in both on- and off-ball scenarios should translate to the sport’s highest level.

USA Today: Winner

If Porter Jr. has to sit out, there will be no immediate pressure to play, and from his perspective, there will be no pressure to be the face of a franchise given that there’s already an established culture. While Thursday may have been tough for him, it could wind up a better situation than if he were to enter a franchise in complete rebuilding mode.

CBS Sports: A

The health questions were real. A back injury is serious. But Porter had the talent to be a top-three pick, and the value here -- to a team that needs help at forward -- is too good to pass up. The worry? The Nuggets are offensively stacked already. How will they defend?

Sport’s Illustrated: Winner

Denver is fairly well-positioned to take a patient approach with Porter, given that their core group of Nikola Jokic, Paul Millsap, Jamal Murray and Gary Harris should return intact. They don’t need Porter on the court until he’s healthy, and they can afford to slow-play his return to form thanks to a decently deep supporting cast.

SB Nation: A

Porter still has questions to answer about his skill set. Does he use his scoring to make his teammates better? Can he make an impact defensively? Where is his shooting and ball handling at? Still, if he pans out and stays healthy, Porter can be a go-to scorer who can get buckets from all three levels. I can’t believe he fell this far.

New York Times

If his health is O.K., the Nuggets just got the best pick in the draft. If it isn’t, they wasted an opportunity to add another major piece to go with their three-man core of Nikola Jokic, Gary Harris and Jamal Murray. Assuming he can keep himself on the court, Porter is a perfect complement to those players.

NBADraft.net

A healthy Porter could be this draft’s best pure scorer, with shot creation abilities similar to Jayson Tatum. But the health is a serious question mark, as some NBA personnel folks expect Porter to miss most (if not all) of his rookie season. A healthy Porter (particularly one with a massive chip on his shoulder after this precipitous fall down the draft) is a franchise-altering talent, and the Nuggets should be commended for taking a home-run swing to try to dig themselves out of that No. 9-seed purgatory they seem perpetually trapped in.

Watch: Michael Porter Jr. and Jarred Vanderbilt play one-on-one

2018-06-21T23:13:40-06:00

Teammates on team USA, teammates again

Jarred Vanderbilt and Michael Porter Jr. were teammates once before. Back in 2017, both attended the mini camp for the USA Basketball Junior National team, where Porter Jr. was the well-known star and Vanderbilt was the rising big man with a unique skill set. Fortunately, in the era of YouTube, we have footage of the two newly drafted Denver Nuggets playing one-on-one after practice.

Vanderbilt isn’t known as a shooter but he looks like pretty smooth in this footage. It’s always surprising how great players at this level are in scrimmages, practices, and light workouts.

If you really want to get excited, watch these highlights of MPJ dominating the 2017 Nike Hoop Summit against the nation’s top young talent. Keep in mind that Porter Jr. is as tall as Kevin Durant. The upside here is incredible.

Audio: Tim Connelly speaks to Denver Nuggets media after the NBA Draft

2018-06-21T22:42:28-06:00

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Connelly is high on Denver’s future prospects with Michael Porter Jr., Jarred Vanderbilt. and Thomas Welsh

After the NBA Draft festivities concluded, Denver Nuggets President of Basketball Operations spoke to the Denver media about the prospects Denver selected. Michael Porter Jr., Jarred Vanderbilt, and Thomas Welsh are all intriguing prospects for Denver for different reasons, and Connelly was excited about adding three guys with contrasting skill sets to bolster Denver’s future.

From Porter’s elite shooting upside, to Vanderbilt’s elite rebounding and defense, to Welsh’s rebounding and outside shooting, the Nuggets hit this one out of the park. Connelly was very excited to talk to the media, a notable difference from last year’s festivities.

Check it out!

Denver Nuggets select Thomas Welsh out of UCLA with the 58th pick

2018-06-21T22:20:11-06:00

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Nuggets selected their third player of the night in Thomas Welsh, the seven footer out of UCLA

The Denver Nuggets have indeed used the 58th pick to select their third and final player of the 2018 NBA Draft: Thomas Welsh, the seven footer out of UCLA. Exactly one week ago the Nuggets invited six players to workout ahead of the draft and Welsh, a floor spacing center, was among them.

Welsh is a rare, four year senior. At 22-years old, the Los Angeles native will enter the NBA as an elder to a sizable group of players with their rookie seasons already under their belt. Over the course of his four year career, Welsh averaged 9.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game with the Bruins.

Per Game Table
Season	School	Conf	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS	SOS
2014-15	UCLA	Pac-12	36	3	15.7	1.7	3.7	.470	1.7	3.7	.470	0.0	0.0		0.4	0.6	.609	1.5	2.3	3.8	0.2	0.4	1.1	0.5	2.4	3.8	8.27
2015-16	UCLA	Pac-12	31	26	26.8	5.1	8.6	.590	5.1	8.6	.590	0.0	0.0		1.1	1.5	.756	3.2	5.3	8.5	0.5	0.3	1.0	0.8	2.8	11.2	9.69
2016-17	UCLA	Pac-12	32	32	25.1	4.7	8.1	.585	4.7	8.0	.584	0.0	0.0	1.000	1.3	1.5	.894	2.2	6.5	8.7	1.0	0.3	1.3	0.4	2.5	10.8	6.39
2017-18	UCLA	Pac-12	33	33	33.2	4.9	10.1	.485	3.5	6.7	.527	1.4	3.4	.402	1.5	1.8	.828	2.6	8.2	10.8	1.4	0.7	0.9	1.0	2.4	12.6	6.86
Career	UCLA		132	94	25.0	4.0	7.5	.537	3.7	6.6	.554	0.3	0.9	.407	1.0	1.3	.798	2.4	5.5	7.8	0.8	0.4	1.1	0.7	2.5	9.5	7.80

Provided by CBB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 6/21/2018.

The Nuggets selected two tall and long forwards with their first two picks and opted for real size with their final selection. Welsh projects as a potential floor spacer, although he didn’t begin shooting threes—literally—until his senior season, when he shot a surprising 40 percent from deep on 3.4 attempts per game.

With two centers and a small army of forwards on the roster, it is unlikely that Welsh gets real burn anytime soon. In the modern NBA, a center must posses the ability to spread the floor, or else transcend that requirement with tremendous value on the defensive end. Welsh projects to check that first box and has earned himself a selection when some thought Denver would simply sell their final pick.

Audio: Michael Porter Jr. speaks to the local media for the first time

2018-06-21T22:06:08-06:00

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Porter Jr. speaks to local Denver media for the first time.

First the first time in his NBA career, Michael Porter Jr. spoke to the media scrum.

In a phone interview, the former Missouri 6’11 forward described his thoughts on the situation in Denver as a great fit. Porter was interested in the city of Denver, talked about two of his phone calls with the Nuggets staff before and after the draft, and talked about what fans should expect from him going forward.

He mentions his health situation, when he expects to play, and other interesting tidbits talking to the media.

Check it out!

Denver trades up, Magic draft Jarred Vanderbilt for the Nuggets with pick 41

2018-06-21T21:35:16-06:00

Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Denver trades up for the 41st pick in the draft, selects Jarred Vanderbilt out of Kentucky

The Denver Nuggets decided they wanted a young power forward who could play some small ball center and traded with the Orlando Magic for Jarred Vanderbilt, the freshman from Kentucky. He was a rebounding demon in college despite a recurring foot injury that limited him to just 14 games in college: his rebounding averages are higher than many first-round big men including DeAndre Ayton and Mohamed Bamba.

Sources: Orlando will trade No. 41 overall pick Jarred Vanderbilt to Denver.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2018

Denver is betting on upside and against injury concerns, taking players in Michael Porter Jr and now Vanderbilt who fell because of availablity concerns. Vanderbilt can’t shoot at the moment and his upside is an unknown, but as a potential defensive version of Kenneth Faried who can cover both wings and bigs he has some abilities lacking in the myriad of other backup front court players on this roster already. Vanderbilt will undoubtedly need time in the G League, and as a second round pick the Nuggets do not get the four-year contract luxury that first rounders provide, but Vanderbilt’s 7’1 wingspan and potential defensive versatility next to Jokic led Denver to pull the trigger on this trade.

Here’s hoping Porter and Vanderbilt can stay healthy and productive in ways a similar set of players, Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, were not able to in their Nuggets careers. If there were player types to take the risk on, though, it might just be the high-scoring small forward with length and the defensive-minded rebounder with great wingspan.

However it turns out, Denver’s front office is not proving to be risk-averse this year. Full details of the trade yet to come.

Roundtable on the Denver Nuggets drafting Michael Porter Jr.

2018-06-21T21:18:02-06:00

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

There’s a lot to feel about this

What word would you use to describe Denver’s pick of Michael Porter Jr. in the first round of the 2018 NBA draft?

Adam Mares: Shocking. Up until this morning, MPJ wasn’t even on the radar to fall to 14. He was rumored to rise to #2 but never rumored to fall to 14 until the morning of the draft so I have to say that I am pretty surprised by this. We at Stiffs didn’t even write a draft profile on him!

Zach Mikash (@ZachMikash): Speechless. I’m not sure how I feel about it at all because it wasn’t even a possibility I was considering.

Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn): Precarious. Denver is on the edge with this pick. Either it will be terrible, or it will be awesome. There is no in between.

Ashley Douglas (@AshleyNBAHoops): Intrigued. After last year’s draft (yes I still remember) I really wasn’t going into this year with many expectations. That said, I’m intrigued with the pick, and I think the Nuggets could really make Porter into a great fit.

Gordon Gross (@GMoneyNuggs): Portentous. It could be a minor miracle, or it could doom Denver to back-to-back missed lottery picks. Michael Porter Jr could be a savior, a bust, or anything in between. His floor is as a DNP-injury forever, and his ceiling is a multiple-time All-Star. Which will he be? Your auguring of the situation is as good as mine.

Brendan Vogt (@Bvogt422): Exciting. Who knows if Porter Jr. will stay healthy and move the needle for Denver anytime soon, but they managed to make a huge splash on draft night without trading up. This organization has been lit up in the past for their conservative approach and their seeming passivity, but that’s obviously not a valid criticism here. They rolled the dice.

Evan Fiala (@eefiala): Titillating (h/t Woj). MPJ wasn’t even on my radar as I thought there was no way he would drop that far. But drop he did. There’s a chance that he might never live up to his potential, but his ceiling is soooo high. I’m pumped!

Are you more focused on the risks or more focused on the reward?

Mares: There was a scenario in which Denver traded this pick just to shed Kenneth Faried’s salary. There is also always a risk that the 14th pick turns out to be a below average player who never cracks the rotation. So while MPJ’s injury concerns are very real and make him much more risky of a prospect than usual, I’m more focused on what he could become if he is healthy - a long, athletic, go-to scorer.

Mikash: I’m going to focus on the reward. Every pick is a risk, even more so at pick 14. The Nuggets go with the ultimate risk/reward pick in Porter so if it pans out it completely changes their ceiling.

Blackburn: I’m a little bit nervous about it, so I will say focused on the risks. There are real holes in Porter’s game that he needs to address, and the back being the biggest issue of them all. He’s an excellent talent, but I’m very wary. Denver needs a contributor next season at small forward.

Douglas: There is never reward without risk—in anything. So of course I’m focused on the reward. The top three picks in the drafts run just as much of a risk of being a bust as the last player picked. So, I’m excited to see what Porter can become for Denver once he’s back at full strength. Take Joel Embiid for example. He was injured when Philadelphia drafted him, and unfortunately he was injured far longer than anyone thought, but he turned out to be the best thing that happened to them.

Gross: Reward. Denver has operated out of fear before, and refused to take chances and make moves. They didn’t trade players out of fear of missing the playoffs by a game or two, only to miss the playoffs by a game or two. This was a big swing that could have big consequences, but instead of getting a high-floor / low-ceiling player at a position of need (backup point guard or defensive wing, for example) they were willing to go the home run / strikeout route instead. Hopefully Porter is a home run.

Vogt: Reward. Denver drafted Porter Jr. at 14 — that’s a much different risk than taking him inside the top-8 as many expected one of Cleveland or Chicago to do. Porter might be one of the very best players in this class and that gets harder to pass on with each pick. Worth the gamble at 14.

Fiala: Reward - though knowing that 12 other teams passed on such a high profile prospect is frightening. But this is a player who has true star potential. And he could fit in a role that Denver absolutely needs. If he gets and stays healthy, the Nuggets just opened their championship window by a wide margin.

When do you think MPJ will play his first game in a Denver Nuggets uniform?

Mares: Summer League, 2019. I think there’s at least a chance that he doesn’t play at all this upcoming season. I hope I’m wrong, but with back injuries like this, it might be best to look long term with him.

Mikash: I think we’ll see him in the 2018-2019 season at some point. He played in the tournament and though it appeared he had some set backs I think he’s going to have a chip on his shoulder and do everything he can to get back on the court.

Blackburn: January of 2019. I don’t expect him to be healthy, and Denver should absolutely take things slow with him.

Douglas: I’d also say he’s looking at end of 2018 into the beginning of 2019. There certainly isn’t any need to rush him onto the court and risk injuring him farther. The Nuggets can take the time they need to get him trained and healthy, and perhaps he can debut to give the Nuggets what they need to make the playoffs this season.

Gross: Denver has the depth at the 4 that means they won’t need him even off the bench there - and yet might be so thin at the 3 that he’ll get on the court as soon as he seems able. I don’t think Denver will hold him out the whole year, and that it will be more of a delayes start. Let’s say December 2018.

Vogt: I doubt we see MPJ next season, and that’s ok. That’s what it takes to get a player of his caliber at the low end of the lottery, and we’ve seen multiple top tier talents do just fine after missing their rookie season with injuries.

Fiala: It’s interesting because MPJ himself said he would play at Summer League 2018. He might not have a choice, though. I’d expect Denver to be extremely cautious with him. Early 2019.

What are the odds that he becomes the small forward of the future for the Denver Nuggets?

Mares: 40%. I’ve said for a few years now that Denver’s best chance of building a contender around Nikola Jokic is to have a long, go-to scorer type at small forward. I’m not sure MPJ has the defensive upside but his length and ability to score has the potential to be a great combination.

Mikash: Tough call. I’ll say 50/50 though. If Porter is right and can live up to the hype he gives the Nuggets a huge weapon to use on offense and could be the guy they rely on when offenses inevitably get bottled up in the playoffs.

Blackburn: 60%. It’s more likely than not likely. I think it he has tools that Denver needs to be a championship contender long term. In order to be the long term small forward though, he will have to be a 20 points per game scorer. If not, the advantage he provides in Denver’s current starting lineup is moot. I’m intrigued.

Douglas: That’s a tough prediction to make. I want to be optimistic and say over 50%, but given that he’s already injured it’s hard to say. I would love to see Porter develop his abilities on defense, and become the outside big man with high level defense skills that Gallo almost was. I still miss Gallinari’s ability to draw a big man out from under the rim leaving the opposing defense short handed. I’d love to get that back.

Gross: 70%. There are zero other contenders for that role, and Porter has amazing upside. I consider him at least a Gallo-level player if healthy, and Gallo was fine in that role - and even better if his early back injury had been his only injury. All the more reason for Denver to invest in every specialist and therapist necessary to keep Porter from future recurring injuries.

Vogt: I’d say 35, maybe 40 percent. Kidding, but forever shouts to Earl Boykins. This is a tough one because if he was healthy the odds would be extremely favorable. As Gordon points out, there are virtually zero other candidates here. But we can’t let our excitement blind us from the fact that back injuries are terrifying, especially for 19-year olds. There is a real chance this never works out. Still worth it though.

Fiala: I’m going to go with 75%. It’s not every day a talent like Porter Jr. literally falls into a team’s lap. The Nuggets need a SF, so my guess is they do all they can to make it happen.