Denver Stiffs - All 2020 NBA Draft Profiles

2020 NBA Draft Profile: Cole Anthony

2020-11-13T03:00:00-07:00

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Cole Anthony, Point Guard, North Carolina

Physical Traits

Height: 6’3”

Wingspan: 6’3.5”

Weight: 184

Age: 20.5 (5/15/2000)

Per Game Table
Season	School	G	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2019-20	UNC	22	34.9	6.0	15.7	.380	3.7	9.3	.402	2.2	6.4	.348	4.4	5.8	.750	0.5	5.2	5.7	4.0	1.3	0.3	3.5	2.9	18.5
Career	UNC	22	34.9	6.0	15.7	.380	3.7	9.3	.402	2.2	6.4	.348	4.4	5.8	.750	0.5	5.2	5.7	4.0	1.3	0.3	3.5	2.9	18.5

Provided by CBB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 11/12/2020.

Strengths

Scoring. Like his father, Greg, Cole is a player that is able to put points on the board. He’s worked hard to develop a smooth jumpshot, both on and off the dribble. He can navigate through the defense with a deep bag of moves, elevate at the rim, and score at all three levels. He has the physical tools to get to the free throw line at a solid rate, where he shoots a good percentage. Is just as comfortable flipping up a floater off the dribble as he is casually crossing over his defender and pulling up from midrange on a fadeaway. He’s got a nice New York guard style of play to his game.

Athleticism. I’ve seen some pushback on Anthony, and that he doesn’t have the size to play against other guards in the league. Maybe these people only watched him play after he came back from a knee injury while at North Carolina? I reject that notion, this is a kid with a 40” vertical jump who has been dunking since the eighth grade. You just have to watch him block Shakur Juiston against Oregon to realize how much of an athlete this guy is.

Competitiveness. This is a big city kid who does not like to lose. He’s going to constantly bring that fire and drive to win games on the court every single night. He’s going to be really unhappy if the team is losing, and as the point guard, has the ability to really help provide the fire his teammates may need to keep battling. The Nuggets have a lot of quiet resolve guys, but they could use a guy or two that are going to yell and shout and get hyped after a big play. I can see that competitiveness helping fuel improvements in his game, helping him become a better playmaker and a better defender. He’s got the pedigree and has responded well to good coaching, so I think he’s got a lot he’s going to be able to accomplish on the court.

Weaknesses

Playmaking. Part of this stems from the roster that he played with at UNC, but a 3.9:3.5 AST:TO ratio isn’t exactly what the Nuggets have targeted for backup point guards in the recent past. Whether he’s trying to force a pass that just isn’t there, or not taking the simple pass seriously enough, there are moments where he can struggle to set up his teammates. I watched him in the Nike Hoop Summit Game, and I didn’t see a guy that wasn’t looking to share the ball. Perhaps on a roster with more scorers, more experienced bigs, and another couple players that can distribute the ball, he’ll have more passing lanes open up for him and he’ll improve in this area.

Size. While he’s not a small point guard, he’s not exactly a big point guard. While Murray has always had a good strong core, Anthony isn’t quite as stout. That leaves him vulnerable to switches in the pick and roll, where his combination of size and weight put him at a disadvantage. He’s too small to play shooting guard as a starter, and may always struggle to contest shots, even when he’s playing good defense. He does show good effort at times on defense, and is a willing rebounder (5.7 per game), but you can’t teach tall, and he’s not in that camp. Being big doesn’t always guarantee success though, as Nuggets fans can attest to with the point guard they selected the year before Jamal Murray.

Expected Outcome

Projected Draft Range: Mid-first to early 20’s

Denver Stiffs Big Board: 11

NBA Comparison: Kemba Walker, Patty Mills, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf

Fit With the Nuggets

Why Anthony makes sense for Denver

We already know that the name “Anthony” looks good on the back of a Nuggets jersey!

I’ve had a different player on the top of my board for the Nuggets for a long time, but I have Anthony second. I see a need for the Nuggets to add more scoring to their team, and finding another guard who can stretch the floor while also handle playmaking would be huge for the Nuggets. It’s going to be hard to keep Monte Morris around for much longer, and Anthony can even play alongside him this year. The Nuggets can use someone to not just lead the second unit, but help relieve the primary ballhandler responsibility for Jamal Murray. If Anthony hits, having an offense with him, Murray, and MPJ scoring off of Jokic passes would be among the most thrilling offenses in the league.

Why Anthony doesn’t make sense for Denver

The Nuggets have Monte Morris and PJ Dozier, and are happy with them as their backup point guards next season. No one can be the caretaker of an offense like Morris, who is a historically elite player in regards to his assist to turnover ratio. But replacing Morris with a point guard like Anthony would be a real shock to the system and to the coaching staff, which collectively doesn’t have a lot of hair to pull after turnovers. He’s not a 3&D guard, and needs the ball. Taking the ball out of the hands of MPJ, Jokic, and Murray is just missed buckets.

Bottom Line

I think Anthony is one of the best players in the draft. Forget positional need, if he’s still there at 22, you take him and make things work. The Nuggets may not prioritize another scoring point guard like I have been, and I would be really surprised if he was Denver’s pick Wednesday night. But I think he could really make an impact, and help give Denver enough offensive firepower off the bench to eventually be a Sixth Man of the Year candidate, if not a starter in a smaller backcourt alongside Jamal Murray.

Highlights

2020 NBA Draft Profile: Desmond Bane

2020-11-12T07:00:00-07:00

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Despite concerns with his physical profile, Desmond Bane will have a good NBA career

Desmond Bane, Wing, TCU

Physical Traits

Height: 6’6”

Wingspan: 6’5”

Weight: 215

Age: 22 (6/25/1998)

Desmond Bane college stats

Strengths

Shooting

The first thing that stands out when evaluating Desmond Bane is the elite jumper. After 575 attempts in college and connecting on over 43% of those shots, it’s pretty clear that Bane’s jumper will translate to the NBA. With a variety of moves on and off the ball to create space, Bane profiles as a player who will have tremendous gravity throughout his NBA career without being a player who attempts an exorbitant amount of shots.

The mechanics on Bane’s shot are clean and crisp, and his footwork will allow him to attempt jumpers at a variety of angles. As long as he maintains his strength or even improves upon it, there’s no reason to believe he won’t be supremely effective from the NBA three-point line.

Versatility

When it comes to today’s NBA, the ability to check several boxes in order to play against several different teams and styles is incredibly important at the highest level. Offensively and defensively, Bane checks those boxes. With the ability to shoot in a variety of situations on catch and shoot, off the dribble, and drives to the basket, it will be difficult for defenders to shut him down completely in a playoff series. In addition, Bane is one of the better passers in this draft class and will make the right decision with the ball un his hands if defenses overplay him.

Defensively, Bane switches onto a variety of player types and performs moderately well in most situations. His lower body strength prevents him from being moved entirely by larger players, and though he can’t stick with the fastest players, he can stick with the next tier of athletic players within a team concept.

Role Player Potential

Having versatility at the NBA level generally leads to the ability to wear a variety of hats for an organization. Elite role players are coveted for their willingness to fill in the gaps and give the final push toward victory afters get a team most of the way there. Bane is the definition of a situational role player who can help out his team every single game in a variety of ways. One night, he will hit five threes off the bench and change the complexion of a game. The next, he will dish out five assists, handling point guard duties if the need arises.

At 6’6”, Bane isn’t the traditional size of a role player at guard. Often, players like him who make winning plays are 6’3” or shorter. There are certain scenarios and certain teams in which those types of players won’t be helpful. Bane will gain a comfort level in almost every scenario at the next level, depending on what he’s asked to do. As long as he’s not the sole creator on offense or stopper on defense, he will contribute to a winning basketball team.

Weaknesses

Physical Tools

While I keep mentioning 6’6”, I’ve neglected to mention the wingspan, which was most recently measured at 6’5”. To be an elite player in the NBA, there is generally a baseline for athleticism that most players have to meet. Nikola Jokić is an exception to the rule, and the majority of NBA stars outside of Jokić all have the combination of speed, quickness, strength, and explosiveness necessary to rise to star levels.

Now, that doesn’t mean Bane can’t be a good NBA player. There are several quality NBA guards and wings who have made things work despite a lack of top shelf athleticism. Fred VanVleet, Malcolm Brogdon, Joe Ingles, and even someone like Duncan Robinson have all made it work. J.J. Redick even has a similar negative wingspan and still provides excellent value. It’s all about recalibrating expectations though. Bane won’t be a star, but he could be a star role player.

If he doesn’t ever figure this out, it could become a limiting factor for him when he faces elite offenses or elite offensive players. Redick has had similar issues in the past, and it’s a very real concern.

Ball Handling

The one tangible concern that many analysts have is Bane’s ceiling as a ball handler and playmaker at the next level. His vision is great, and he executes different kinds of passes well, but creating separation is a weakness of his. Partially because of athleticism concerns, but also because of a need to tighten up his dribbling.

This is a skill Bane can work on at the next level, and it will need to improve for him to see his full potential.

Expected Outcome

Projected Draft Range: Late lottery, mid first round

Denver Stiffs Big Board: 15th overall

NBA Comparison: Malcolm Brogdon/shorter Joe Johnson hybrid

Fit with the Nuggets

Why Bane makes sense for Denver

In terms of finding players ready to contribute at the NBA level, Bane is one of the safer prospects at this point in the draft process. Shooting is a translatable skill, and if Bane shoots it well at the NBA level, then he will most likely find his way onto the floor during his rookie season.

The Nuggets need cheap, reliable contributors as the rest of their roster becomes expensive. With questions at shooting guard long term, Bane offers a relatively safe projection as a player who could become a starting caliber shooting guard at the NBA level. His offensive versatility would give the Nuggets options in their starting lineup and open up new opportunities for players like Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. to flourish off the ball. Even if Bane only comes off the bench, if he shoots 40% and guards his position reasonably, that’s a quality bench player almost immediately.

Why Bane doesn’t make sense for Denver

The Nuggets have their sights set on a championship, and drafting Bane would be sign that the Nuggets are close and just need one final push. If the Nuggets aren’t as close as they believe and willingly pass on younger, more athletic options than a four year senior in Bane, then they may miss an opportunity to add to the top end of a championship rotation.

Adding Bane into the rotation also means adding another player who needs a little insulation defensively. Though he’s a smart, willing team defender, stronger and more athletic players may overpower him in a starting role, and quick, smaller guards may blaze past him. If the Nuggets are drafting Bane with the hope of starting him next to Murray and Porter, then I fear for the defense now and going forward.

Bottom Line

When factoring in Denver’s draft position at 22nd overall, it’s important to calibrate expectations accordingly. The 22nd pick doesn’t often yield a starting caliber player, and more often than not, it doesn’t yield a rotation player at all. The last five years of 22nd overall picks have been Grant Williams, Chandler Hutchison, Jarrett Allen, Malachi Richardson, and Bobby Portis. One starter, two rotation players, and two (most likely) busts.

Adding Desmond Bane at 22 would be a great way for the Nuggets to replace Malik Beasley. After trading Beasley (and Juancho Hernangomez and Jarred Vanderbilt) for the 22nd pick (and Keita Bates-Diop) it would be fascinating if the Nuggets were able to fill a backup wing position in their rotation with a more versatile piece. Bane is a smart, high IQ basketball player with a willingness to fill different roles and do what’s asked of him. Nuggets fans would appreciate that, and head coach Michael Malone would certainly appreciate it too.

Highlights

2020 NBA Draft Profile: Robert Woodard II

2020-11-11T06:00:00-07:00

Does the raw talent of this forward make sense for the Nuggets?

Robert Woodard II, Wing, Mississippi State

Physical Traits

Height: 6’7”

Wingspan: 7’1”

Weight: 235

Age: 21 (9/22/1999)

Strengths

Defensive Versatility

Robert Woodard II has a rare combination of size and athleticism that allows him to defend every position. While you certainly wouldn’t want him repeatedly trying to stop a big bruising center in the post, he has the tools to handle smaller fives. Woodard II impressively only allowed 0.67 points-per-possession as the one-on-one defender this past season. In most matchups he possesses the lateral quickness to stay with the offensive player and strength to not be backed down by them. Robert also combines his length and hops to contest shots effectively without fouling.

Even with all these positives, Robert still has some work to do on the defensive end. He occasionally lost focus off-ball, but his explosiveness usually allowed him to recover on mental lapses and late reactions for highlight plays. The Association, however, has an embarrassment of elite athletes, meaning Woodard II will need to hone in and focus to consistently play good team defense.

Athleticism

Robert is a premier athlete in all phases. He can seemingly come out of nowhere for jaw-dropping blocks, steals, or put-back slams. The virtual NBA combine athletic testing scores were released yesterday and it’s safe to say he didn’t disappoint.

Here's the wings. Robert Woodard II just missed out on the bSPARQ Hall of Fame (95th percentile or higher). pic.twitter.com/32dUNsmJh3
— Yaya Dubin (@JADubin5) November 11, 2020

Watch out for Woodard II if he has momentum going toward the basket, because he’s always a threat to throw it down. Defenders were forced to make a business decision by avoiding contesting or risk being put on a poster. Villanova knows all about this, just look at what he did against them last season.

Shooting Potential

Despite shooting 42.9% from three this past season, Robert has his fare share of doubters in his jump-shot. These detractors will be quick to point out his 64.1 free-throw percentage and relatively small sample size on three-point shots. Woodard II only attempted 2.3 of them per game in his sophomore season.

On the other hand, Robert is trending in the right direction as a shooter and overall player. He transitioned from a backup as a freshman to the team leader in minutes played in 2019-2020. As a result, his total shot attempts and efficiency both increased. This improvement was encouraging and so were his performances in the virtual NBA combine three-point shooting drills. Woodard II placed in the top seven of both the “3-Point Star Drill” and “Spot-Up 3s”.

Weaknesses

Consistency

Let’s make one thing clear; Robert Woodard II is a hard worker that routinely makes hustle plays. If there’s a loose ball in his vicinity, you better believe he’s going to do everything he can to come up with it. His motor is definitely consistent and not in question. It’s the long stretches where he seems to disappear on offense that cause concern. In 12 of his 31 games this past season, Woodard II wasn’t able to score in double figures. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with being a role player that doesn’t take many shots or light-up the scoreboard, many NBA role players were top scoring options before they made it to the league.

His hesitation to be an aggressive offensive player in the NCAA may only escalate in the NBA. If his defender doesn’t have to worry about Woodard II, that just makes Robert’s other four teammates easier to stop. There’s a fine line here between reckless and assertive. He shouldn’t start taking bad shots just to attempt more, but he needs to be confident and involved, even when he’s off-ball. Robert can be a lethal cutting threat if he starts attempting them more often and methodically. Something tells me Jokic wouldn’t miss him on many.

Playmaking

Woodard II did not handle the rock much in Mississippi State’s half-court offense. The majority of his damage came in transition or spot-up shooting. This strategy was likely for the best, as Robert committed more turnovers than assists. I’m not expecting him to suddenly develop the ability to go create and make his own shot off-the-dribble consistently, but Woodard II needs to improve here to unlock his offensive potential. If those aspects of his game do not develop, however, it would be that much more difficult to become an adequate, complementary offensive player in the association.

Expected Outcome

Projected Draft Range: Late first, early-to-mid second round

Denver Stiffs Big Board: 23rd overall

NBA Comparison: OG Anunoby/Stanley Johnson

Fit with the Nuggets

Why Woodard II makes sense for Denver

Slot him in at SG, SF, or PF because he has the athleticism, size and shooting ability to play any of them. The Nuggets and the rest of the league seem to be moving toward “positionless” basketball and Woodard II fits the trend as someone that can fit into almost any lineup combination. You can never have too much defense and energy, and he brings both of those in spades.

As for offense, he could continue to fill the lower usage role he is already accustomed to. His jump-shot’s release may be a little slow but, free-throw struggles aside, it seems legitimate enough to take the chance. At the very least, Robert’s highlight reel dunk ability would still make him exciting to watch. At the very best, he can become an NBA all-defensive team caliber hooper.

Why Woodard II doesn’t make sense for Denver

The Nuggets currently have a plethora of wing players that would make Robert’s path into the rotation cloudy. Will Barton III, Gary Harris, Michael Porter Jr., and presumably Jerami Grant may take up all of the shooting guard and forward minutes. Even if they don’t, Denver also has PJ Dozier, Bol Bol, Keita Bates-Diop and Vlatko Cancar waiting in the wings. All of the aforementioned players may be better than Woodard II next season.

Additionally, his ability to defend may come at the expense of the Nugget’s offensive success. Don’t get me wrong, The Nuggets need good defenders surrounding their stars, but they can’t afford to have many that are ineffective on the offensive end. “Three-and-D” without the “three”, is not nearly as valuable in the modern NBA. Beyond that, Robert has yet to answer the question of if he is a better pure athlete or basketball player. As of right now, he appears to be a bit more of an elite physical specimen than a baller.

Bottom Line

Over the last several months, Robert Woodard II has risen from a projected end of the second round prospect, to a potential first round pick. The pre-draft process has served him well and if he can continue to impress, the momentum could carry him all the way to Denver’s 22nd overall pick.

If the Nuggets don’t see him as a potential future starter and immediate rotation player, it might not be in their best interest to use their current pick on him. If they end up trading back, however, I love the idea of taking a flier on Woodard II for his potential alone. You just can’t teach his elite length, speed, strength, and vertical prowess.

Highlights

2020 NBA Draft Profile: Isaiah Stewart

2020-11-10T06:00:00-07:00

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Is the raw, athletic big man with a high ceiling too much to pass up?

Isaiah Stewart, PF/C, Washington

Physical Traits

Height: 6’9”

Wingspan: 7’4”

Weight: 250

Age: 19 (5/22/2001)

Isaiah Stewart is a powerful big man on a team that could use one, but his raw nature and lack of a current stretch game makes him a longer term play. Can Denver afford to wait?

Strengths

Power inside game with some finesse touches

Stewart is a ball of muscle with long arms. Build-wise he compares to someone like Bam Adebayo, with a massive frame that can fit in at power forward or center despite being 6’9. He’s not as thick-chested as someone like Zion Williamson, but he has a similar power potential. If you’d like to see him shoving probable top-5 pick James Wiseman around in high school, enjoy this:

He snatches rebounds, blocks shots, hammers interior defenders and runs the break. That’s probably not enough to get him drafted above players with a demonstrated outside game, but fits in with what Denver is looking for. And his touch in the paint is really good. He can get tip-ins, flash good footwork and has a quick second jump more than a huge vertical that lets him play the Nikola Jokic tap game.

Motor and desire

Stewart is a hustle player. “Run the floor like a dare,” he says is a motto of his from an early age. He hustles on defense, for rebounds, and in transition on both sides of the ball. He refers to himself as “the biggest sleeper in the draft” and is vocally annoyed that players he’s beaten his whole life are now being ranked ahead of him, stating he’s been working on his outside shot and other perceived weaknesses all year. I believe him. He has a bit of Derrick Favors in him with the monster chip on his shoulder, mixed with a bit of the Memphis Grit n Grind attitude. For me that’s definitely a plus.

Weaknesses

Lack of explosiveness

Stewart can obviously dunk, and he runs well, but he doesn’t jump out of the gym. He’s not Dwight Howard, but instead relies on his length and quick bounce to take care of it for him. That works in high school and even college where there aren’t a ton of explosive big men, but it remains to be seen whether it will work in the NBA. It did for Zach Randolph, who is a decent style comp. But Zach didn’t have to play in the 2020 NBA.

He also played in a 2-3 zone in college, which means his switchability onto smaller wings has yet to be fully tested with real competition. Will the lack of vertical explosion carry over to lateral movement against wings on the perimeter?

Demonstrated shooting touch

Stewart hit 77.4% of his free throws. His form is decent, if a bit rushed. But he shot 0.6 times per game from 3, and only made 32% of his jumpshots in college. Stewart is a huge scouting call: his practice form is good and that shotmaking is consistent. Can he carry that into games? Can he get a reliable face-up game and hit enough from three to draw respect? Bigs who can only patrol the paint are fast becoming after-thoughts in the league, so he has to be able to do more.

Expected Outcome

Projected Draft Range: Mid-to-late first round

Denver Stiffs Big Board: 26th overall

NBA Comparison: Zach Randolph

Highlights

Why Stewart makes sense for Denver

Stewart has a mature body - he can bang with NBA bigs right now. His lack of height against 7 footers is offset by his giant wingspan and that stout frame that’s just hard to move. It doesn’t leave him much room to fill out more, but in some ways that’s helpful for a Denver squad that would need power forward minutes and is probably losing both Paul Millsap and Mason Plumlee. Stewart can step into bench PF minutes immediately as a defender and shot-blocker.

As someone who used to live in Seattle, I follow the Washington Huskies closer than some other teams. Stewart was seeing two and three defenders as the main point of attack for Washington, and freeing him up into more of a short roll or back-cut guy who flies in for rebounds can give him an easier road to impact.

He also does the scrappy things Denver needs, like getting back on defense or running the floor for a Jokic pass, without the prospect of him taking a bunch of shots away from Denver’s main offensive pieces. If his offensive game does prove out, though, then you’re looking at a potential Serge Ibaka type of player. That’d be hard to pass up.

Why Stewart doesn’t make sense for Denver

Denver needs 3-and-D wings. Stewart might be none of those things, if it works out poorly. Drafting him might mean replacing a Mason Plumlee who can’t make free throws with one who can. Since Stewart is much cheaper, that’s not an unattractive upgrade, but it still doesn’t solve a ton of needs for Denver and might give them another player who has trouble cracking the playoff rotation.

He’s also young. Michael Malone is not giving big minutes to a 19 year old when he’s rightfully trying to win a title, so is he going to be another player like Malik Beasley and Juancho Hernangomez who is drafted outside the lottery and sits around waiting for his chance for 4 years? That’s not a pick that really helps the Nuggets. If he can play a limited role while he grows and demonstrates a varied skillset, fine - but if he can’t fulfill that limited role (ie, defense) then he’ll have a long slow road ahead of him to getting minutes.

Bottom Line

Can Stewart shoot, or is it a mirage? Can he defend outside of a zone or is a switching defense anathema to him? Is he too young for the Nuggets to wait on, or can he make a limited impact now while getting his feet wet in the NBA?

I like big men with big motors. I was a John Collins fan, and a Bam Adebayo fan, and I’m an Isaiah Stewart fan. I don’t know that he fits what Denver is planning on doing, but if they’re going for upside and need a big man then I don’t know there are many with bigger upsides at any point in this draft than Stewart. A player like Xavier Tillman is a safer bet - he’s a great defender already who doesn’t really shoot much but has a really good basketball IQ. If the two are both available, the older Tillman makes a lot of sense.

But Denver is not known for a lot of safe bets in the draft, and the one year they played it safe and tried to get cute they got burned. Isaiah Stewart wants to be great, and he has the physical tools to be the kind of defender Denver will be lacking without Paul Millsap. Stewart has the potential to be an impact player on both ends without taking too many touches from Denver’s expected offensive lynchpins. His problem would be dislodging Jerami Grant should he return as expected, but his added ability to play against stronger players than the slender Grant can anchor against gives him a path to minutes with this team even as they gear up for another run at a title.

2020 NBA Draft Profile: Jahmi’us Ramsey

2020-11-09T01:00:00-07:00

Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images

Can this young guard be another piece in the machine that is the Nuggets offense?

Jahmi’us Ramsey

Physical Traits

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 195 lbs.

Age: 19 (June 9, 1991)

College Stats

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
2019-20	Texas Tech	Big 12	27	27	31.2	5.5	12.4	.442	3.3	7.2	.454	2.2	5.2	.426	1.9	2.9	.641	0.7	3.3	4.0	2.2	1.3	0.7	2.0	2.2	15.0
Career	Texas Tech		27	27	31.2	5.5	12.4	.442	3.3	7.2	.454	2.2	5.2	.426	1.9	2.9	.641	0.7	3.3	4.0	2.2	1.3	0.7	2.0	2.2	15.0

Provided by CBB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 11/8/2020.

Strengths

Shooting. Ramsey has shown potential as an off-ball shooter, as well as someone that has the ability to pull up off the dribble and score from the perimeter. J.J. Redick he is not, but he’s not Emmanuel Mudiay trying to take 25-foot off-balance fadeaways either. He shot 42.6% on 5.2 3-point attempts per game at Texas Tech, and was one of their top perimeter scoring threats. He’s shown a good court awareness when it comes to spacing the floor, and he’s not going to be shy about pulling the trigger when his number is called.

Athletic profile. He was only 18 years old for his one season at Texas Tech, but he was able to physically keep up with everyone that he played with. He’s a good leaper, and he’s shown that he already has the strength to bang around with older players. He’s the kind of athlete that you really would like to see force turnovers, because you know you’re going to get a really impressive uncontested dunk on the other end.

Age potential. It’s hard to see him being as talked about as he has been prior to the NBA draft without considering his age. There are a lot of raw facets to his game, from his on-ball defense to his ballhandling, but if he’s already as successful as he has been, he offers the promise of a great future contributor.

Weaknesses

Inconsistency. With age comes wisdom, and with youth comes folly. He gets caught ball-watching on defense, and didn’t play with the kind of consistency that Denver has come to rely on from their starting shooting guard. The inability to string together good possessions, let alone games, had to be one of the reasons the front office was fine parting ways with Malik Beasley. Ramsey has a touch of that in his game.

Finishing. Nearly 30% of his field goal attempts came at the rim, and while he shot 52.5% there, about 46% of those were assisted (all stats courtesy of Hoop Math). If you’re going to be a 3&D guard, you need to knock down your perimeter shots, but you also have to be able to attack the rim, off the dribble, and present a scoring threat inside. If that part of a shooter’s game isn’t there, then they need to be so adept at scoring off screens they can make up for the lack of ballhandling and finishing near the rim. Why do you think guys like Dion Waiters and Reggie Jackson keep getting passed between teams?

Court vision. For a combo guard, the only meal he was ordering was buckets. There are times when he catches the ball, and only sees the rim, with anything else in his way collateral damage. He has a good sense of where to be on offense to be a shooter, but in order to take the next step, he has to do more.

Expected Outcome

Projected draft range: late first, early to mid second round

Denver Stiffs Big Board: 32

NBA Comparison: J.R. Smith

Highlights

Why Ramsey makes sense for Denver

The Nuggets can use more shooting, unless you think Troy Daniels is the answer to their floor spacing depth. When the Nuggets traded Malik Beasley and Juancho Hernangomez, they lost two of their best shooters. Those two couldn’t get stops, so they weren’t going to break into Michael Malone’s rotation, but with them gone, the Nuggets weren’t able to threaten defenses as much with the shooting they had leftover. The Nuggets need an athletic guard to replace Beasley, and Ramsey fits that mold of a player.

The Nuggets will always go as far as their defense can take them, and if they can’t defend, Malone is going to wonder why they deserve minutes. Ramsey has the athletic profile to be a good defender, and has shown that he can play good on-ball defense when the situation requires it. That wasn’t all the time for the Red Raiders, and he’ll have to improve there to crack the Nuggets rotation.

He seems like a good kid, and the Nuggets need bodies. If they want to go with PJ Dozier and Monte Morris off the bench, Ramsey is a similar size to Torrey Craig, but is someone I expect to be a much better shooter.

Why Ramsey doesn’t make sense for Denver

He’s a few years away from playing in the rotation of a team as good as the Nuggets. The Nuggets need players that can contribute now, players on team-friendly contracts that can return a positive return.

With his inexperience and inconsistences, he would get taken off the court faster than you’ve ever seen, unless his offensive game is the most impressive thing the coaches have seen. I have doubts about his ability to speed up his shot, attack the rim, and make the right pass quickly and accurately when a pedestrian comes in front of him.

He’s not an immediate contributor for a playoff team, especially in the Western Conference.

Bottom Line

A first round gamble? Maybe if he really interviews well, and no team will bite on trading an early second round pick. But you have to be certain, because there are risks there that could not be beneficial to the team. The Nuggets traded Beasley and Hernangomez to a division rival to get rid of Clint Capela for the Rockets. If they don’t draft for potential now and invest in potential later, that’ll be a disappointing evening for me.

2020 NBA Draft Profile: Jalen Smith

2020-11-06T06:00:00-07:00

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Jalen Smith, PF/C, Maryland

Physical Traits

Height: 6’10”

Wingspan: 7’2”

Weight: 225

Age: 20 (3/16/2000)

Strengths

Rebounding

Jalen Smith led Maryland by corralling 10.5 rebounds per game his sophomore campaign. This more than doubled Aaron Wiggins’ second-best 4.9 boards. While Smith contributed on the glass on both ends, it was his 3.2 offensive rebounds that stood out. He’s a big time put-back threat and showed good anticipation on when to take off if there’s a rebound available. Combining his length and bounce often created easier finishing opportunities on the offensive boards.

Athleticism

Jalen has solid verticality and explosiveness under the basket, but he’s not elite in that area. It’s his speed in the open court that separates him from most bigs. He moves much more like a forward than a center and this even remains true when he’s handling the ball. He routinely out-ran the opposing teams forwards and centers in transition for pressure-free finishes.

Defensive Potential

The area Smith excels in the most defensively is weak-side rim protection. He’s able to stay vertical and block shots at a good rate without getting into foul trouble. His feel and reactions on when to help or rotate down low often puts him in great positions to make a play. As for the rest of his defensive game; Smith can get overpowered in the post a bit too easily, while his footwork and stance on the perimeter are inconsistent at best. Despite moving well laterally, he was fairly frequently blown by on closeouts attempts. If he can polish up the fundamentals and bulk up a bit, Jalen has all the physical ability to defend the perimeter decently while also holding his own down low.

Shooting

36.8% from three on 2.8 attempts per game this past season doesn’t tell the full story on Jalen’s jumper. He looked comfortable in limited attempts shooting off-the-dribble and even spotting up off screens. Maryland was confident enough in his shooting ability that they ran some sets aimed to get him perimeter shots; that’s not common for a center. Smith took advantage of these opportunities by having the highest three-point percentage of anyone in the Terrapin’s regular rotation. The only possible concern is that his release is a bit low, but at 6’10” this should rarely be an issue.

Weaknesses

Playmaking

Less than 1 assist per game is fairly alarming for the Maryland alum. Add in his career average of 1.5 turnovers and it’s clear Jalen has difficulties setting up his teammates. He can be a bit careless and lazy when passing the ball. As I mentioned earlier, Smith was the most efficient three-point shooter on the season. His teammates inability to more consistently make jumpers certainly didn’t help Jalen’s assists totals, but he wasn’t exactly creating easier shots for anyone else either.

On the bright side, he does look comfortable handling the ball for a big. If he can make strides on his passing, then Smith’s overall playmaking could quickly transition from a weakness to a strength.

Physical Strength

At 225 pounds, the former Terrapin is going to struggle with NBA size the same way he did against the larger centers of the NCAA. His lack of strength is the most apparent in his lower body. With stronger legs and core muscles Jalen Smith would have an easier time keeping his balance and fighting for rebound positioning under the basket. He did most of his damage on the boards by combining his superior athleticism with hustle. The NBA, however, is a different animal and that likely won’t be enough to continue being a positive rebounder. If done right, Jalen can put on some weight without sacrificing his speed and potentially make himself even more explosive under the hoop.

Post Offense

Smith actually does have pretty good touch around the rim, but still struggled at turning post-ups into points. He wasn’t able to back many defenders down or trick them with moves. A large portion of his post possessions were tough, awkward looking shot attempts. This concern is mitigated by his projected role in the association. NBA coaches should know Jalen will be better utilized in the dunkers spot and as a pick-n-pop threat. The jump in talent around Smith should allow him to play to his strengths in a lower usage role early in his professional career.

Expected Outcome

Projected Draft Range: Mid first

Denver Stiffs Big Board: 20th overall

NBA Comparison: Serge Ibaka/Christian Wood

Fit with the Nuggets

Why Smith makes sense for Denver

As we approach the draft, the Nuggets front court is thin on paper. Nikola Jokic, Bol Bol, and Vlatko Cancar are the only bigs currently under contract for the 2020-2021 season. Even if Jerami Grant is re-signed and Michael Porter Jr. plays more power forward next year, they likely don’t help fill the backup center role. Many consider Bol Bol a very tall forward and if the Nuggets feel the same way then another center will be needed.

Enter Jalen Smith, who can provide instant shot blocking, rebounding and floor spacing off the bench. His size and athleticism afford him the versatility to play at power forward or center, filling in nicely wherever he’s needed.

Why Smith doesn’t make sense for Denver

The Nuggets already have multiple front court options that have strength issues and fall under a similar archetype as Jalen. Bol Bol and MPJ are both lethal shooters that have length to protect the rim. If they added another player in that mold it may be at the expense of versatility throughout their front court. Given the matchup-driven nature of most playoff series, it may be vital to have players with varying strengths to limit potential mismatches.

Bottom Line

Jalen Smith has some NBA-ready attributes. His athleticism, weak side shot blocking and shooting all project to translate to the league in varying degrees. If he can develop into a more complete player he should have a long career.

Very few mocks drafts have Smith falling past the late teens, but that is far from an unprecedented slip if he was still available with the Nuggets 22nd overall pick. As with every draft pick, there are some concerns, but I believe Jalen Smith could be at the top of Tim Connelly’s big board if he hasn’t been selected when the Nuggets are on the clock.

Highlights

2020 NBA Draft Profile: Paul Reed

2020-11-05T07:00:00-07:00

Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images

Could Paul Reed provide the two-way skills of a Paul Millsap replacement?

Paul Reed, PF, DePaul

Physical Traits

Height: 6’9”

Wingspan: 7’2”

Weight: 220 lbs

Age: 21 (6/14/1999)

Paul Reed College Stats

Strengths

Physical Profile

Standing at a chiseled 6’9, 220 pounds, Reed has the ideal physical profile for a versatile modern power forward. His mobility on the perimeter is unquestioned as he consistently shadowed guards in pick and roll and isolation possessions while recovering quickly to contest shots all over the floor. He rarely got pushed around in the Big East, a weaker conference but one still filled with NBA talent. He didn’t often back players under the rim, but he was physical on the boards, walled off the paint, and intimidated ball handlers throughout the year.

Defensive Acumen

Reed takes pride in his defense, and when he was challenged this year as a junior at DePaul, he often responded with a big play. What really stands out about him is his ability to quickly process and navigate defensive rotations. He understands where the play is going and where he needs to be in order to prevent it from happening. That kind of high IQ defender often raises the floor for team defenses at the next level.

The ability to get into a stance and not only prevent a drive on a switch but also easily anticipate the shot in the clip above is likely demoralizing for opponents. Reed did this throughout the season with a 3.3% steal rate and 9.7% block rate, the only player in college basketball to hit those benchmarks with his minute load. He had one game with seven steals as well as a separate game with eight blocks. Players that can do both often translate well.

Offensive Versatility

Highlights of Reed can often be seen of him taking rebounds coast-to-coast and finishing with a finesse layup. He posts up, handles the ball, shows flashes of playmaking potential, and is comfortable taking different kinds of shots. His mechanics are limiting (more on that later) but Reed plays like a player that can do everything on the floor.

He can’t do everything quite yet, but players like him with a burgeoning skill set are exceedingly valuable in a position-less era because of a lack of weaknesses. Reed’s ability to fill multiple roles at the next level offensively should be appealing. Need him to play in the dunker spot? Check. Need him to set screens and roll hard to the rim? Check. Post up mismatches? Check. Dribble drive game? Check. Off-ball shooting? Ehhh we will see but I think he figures it out.

Weaknesses

Shooting Mechanics

There’s a lot going on with Reed’s shot, and not a lot of it looks good.

Despite being a career 33% three-point shooter and 74% free throw shooter in college, I would feel a lot better about Reed’s NBA future if he got with an NBA shooting coach and worked on overhauling his mechanics. The base is very stiff, and starting from that point, the shot almost appears crooked rising from his gather into his release. He clearly has touch, but adding some fluidity and efficiency to his shooting motion will help him stick in the NBA as a do-everything type that can also shoot.

Decision Making

At DePaul, Reed was far and away the best player on both sides of the ball, and naturally, he was often caught overcompensating for that reality with some bad shot selection and bad turnovers. This feels like something that will naturally decrease as Reed transitions into an NBA mind frame with role player expectations. Reducing the amount of possessions he uses overall will likely have a dramatic impact on his offensive efficiency.

Expected Outcome

Projected Draft Range: Late First, Second Round

Denver Stiffs Big Board: 40th overall

NBA Comparison: Rasheed Wallace lite/Paul Millsap

Highlights

Why Reed makes sense for Denver

Reed is one of my favorite prospects in this draft class, and for the life of me, I don’t understand why he isn’t higher on consensus big boards. NBA teams often search for floor raising prospects on the defensive end of the floor to surround their stars but don’t want to lose out on the offensive potential in the process. Reed brings the best of both worlds. He will fill in the gaps for players around him by ranging far and wide defensively. He will also be a jack-of-all-trades type offensively that, if he learns to shoot, could very quickly become an incredibly valuable player in a rotation or even a starting unit.

Nuggets fans: stop me if you’ve heard that before about Paul Millsap rather than Paul Reed. Denver’s incumbent starting power forward showed his age in the playoffs but also showed why he was so valuable alongside Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray throughout his three seasons in a Nuggets uniform. He began as a second rounder out of Louisiana Tech but quickly became a quality rotation player, then a starter, then an All-Star, then a sage veteran throughout his career.

For me, it’s easy to see Reed following a similar path and therefore easy for me to make the case for the Nuggets drafting him as high as 22 in this draft.

Why Reed doesn’t make sense for Denver

If the Nuggets believe Michael Porter Jr. is best served as a power forward in the future, then it’s possible that Reed isn’t the right player for Denver to take a chance on this year. Maximizing opportunity and talent is very important for maintaining the pipeline of talent, and if Denver sees this draft as an opportunity to add an on ball defender with more of a wing build/play style than Reed, then it’s completely justifiable.

But even if the Nuggets see Porter and Reed as players who could play together long term defensively, the Nuggets might not see Reed as the level of shooter they need next to Jokić and Porter going forward. Every position has to shoot at the NBA level except for specific circumstances, and for the Nuggets and Jokić, incoming players must have the ability to play both inside and outside to complement what Jokić does.

If Reed can’t be a shooter, he may not stick at the NBA level.

Bottom line

When I started watching film on the NBA Draft this year, Reed was the first player that I watched that stood out to me as a star caliber talent. He isn’t the only star caliber talent, but his tools, skill set, and blend of foundational skills and pop skills stood out as somebody who was drastically underrated because of his situation and could turn into something completely different at the NBA level.

The Nuggets may or may not use the 22nd pick this year. They may or may not acquire a second rounder. No matter what happens though, if they come out of draft night with Reed on the roster, I will be happy. He still has more to show after some time with an NBA developmental team, and I could see him making a major impact in his first couple of seasons.

2020 NBA Draft Profile: R.J. Hampton

2020-11-04T05:00:00-07:00

Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

R.J. Hampton, SG, New Zealand Breakers

Physical Traits

Height: 6’5”

Wingspan: 6’7”

Weight: 188 lbs

Age: 19 (2/7/2001)

R.J. Hampton College Stats

Per Game Table
Season	Team	League		G	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PTS
2019-20	New Zealand	NBL Australia	au	15	20.6	.407	.295	.679	0.7	3.1	3.9	2.4	1.1	0.3	1.5	8.8
1 Season					20.6	.407	.295	.679	0.7	3.1	3.9	2.4	1.1	0.3	1.5	8.8

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/3/2020.

Strengths

Age

Unlike a fair number of the prospects in this class, Hampton is still on the younger side of the spectrum. He won’t turn 20 until February of next year, which gives Denver an even longer timetable to develop the young guard. With established players in Jamal Murray, Gary Harris and Monte Morris, along with the developing P.J. Dozier, Hampton would have no rush to play right away while still being young when he takes the floor.

Steals

Hampton isn’t coming out onto the floor with overwhelming length, but he has shown a great knack for getting his hands onto balls and coming away with steals. Per 36 minutes, he averaged 1.9 takeaways. Among rotation players for Denver last season, that would have ranked number one over defensive star Gary Harris.

Rebounding

An area of the game that the Nuggets have consistently been outdone over the last few seasons has been rebounding by the guards. They have great rebounders in the frontcourt, but, among rotation guards last season, Jamal Murray was your leader with 4.5 boards per 36 minutes. Hampton averaged 6.3 rebounds per 36 minutes during his previous season. Those extra possessions make the difference late in the game.

Slashing

While Hampton isn’t an outstanding shooter, he fits in on offense as a slasher. Hampton’s athleticism and burst allow him to catch the ball and get to the rim quickly. Playing off of a guy like Jokic would allow him to cut and catch the ball in rhythm for easy dunks. If his 3-point shot never catches on, he’ll need to really excel in this area of his game.

Weaknesses

Free Throws

Any time a guard struggles with free throws, it should make you nervous. Struggles at the free-throw line traditionally lead to struggles from other areas of the floor. Hampton, in a limited sample size, was just terrible at the line. He shot just 67.9 percent there. It could be an oddity, but it is a definite concern at this stage.

3-point Shooting

Unless something dramatically changes, Hampton is never going to be a great long-range gunner. He shot just 29.5 percent from 3-point range during his lone season in the Australian league, and that’s not the way that he does his damage. He wants to get into the lane and score with athleticism. That could cause some issues around Nikola Jokic, who likes having space to operate.

Fouling

Hampton is great at getting steals. I mentioned that previously, but one of the reasons he does that is he takes a lot of chances. He averaged 3.4 fouls per 36 minutes. As a guy off the bench, that’s not the worst thing, but he’s not a permanent bench guy. You’re hoping a first-round pick will get into the starting lineup. If teams know they can catch him reaching and drawing fouls, they will take advantage of that.

Expected Outcome

Projected Draft Range: Mid-to-Late First

Denver Stiffs Big Board: 25th overall

NBA Comparison: Dante Exum

Highlights

Why Hampton makes sense for Denver

If you want to move on from Harris without experiencing a major step back on defense, Hampton is a good fit. Harris is still the superior defender, especially at their respective stages of their career. Harris is one of the most expensive players on the roster, and he doesn’t bring you much on the offensive end of the floor that you wouldn’t get from Hampton.

He’s younger than Harris, and he’s less likely to deal with injuries. With someone like Michael Porter Jr. on the roster, he’s going to need to be paid at some point, and, when that happens, you would need to move on from Harris anyway. Drafting Hampton to develop behind Harris before taking over you move on from him seems to fit.

Why Hampton doesn’t make sense for Denver

He’s not a good shooter, and his issues at the free-throw line show that this could be a legitimate issue rather than some hiccups. This roster is built around Jokic and his ability to hit shooters on the outside. He can hit Hampton all day long, but, if he isn’t able to knock down those shots, it doesn’t matter how good of a passer Jokic is.

This team is trying to compete right now after the strong show they put on this year, and it’s clear that Hampton still has some developing to do. Harris is “older” at 26, but he’s still not even through his prime. He’s the starter, and he was a key cog for them in the playoffs. If they’re not trying to move him, Hampton shouldn’t be your guy.

Bottom line

Hampton makes a good amount of success for Denver because he gives them additional guard depth. He also gives them a good defensive guard off the bench, unlike someone like Monte Morris. One of the things that works against the case for Hampton is that he may well be off the board at their pick. He’s been a popular pick for the Portland Trail Blazers with the 16th pick in mock drafts, and there are a few other guard-needy teams in that mix as well.

P.J. Dozier is also still on this team, and, after playing decently in the playoffs, there is a path to him joining the rotation next season. If that were to happen, Hampton would hardly ever see the floor. This team needs more depth on wings along with in the frontcourt. He brings some value, but it’s unlikely that he’s super high on their priority list.