Denver Stiffs - 2020 NBA Draft Story Stream

The Nuggets select Zeke Nnaji and RJ Hampton in the NBA Draft | The Denver Stiffs Show

2020-11-19T00:50:25-07:00

Ryan, Zach, and Gordon break down an eventful draft night for the Denver Nuggets and what their two draft selections mean going forward

Host Ryan Blackburn brings on Zach Mikash and Gordon Gross of Denver Stiffs to discuss the events of the 2020 NBA Draft.

What does Arizona big man Zeke Nnaji bring to the Denver Nuggets?
What does USA’er playing in Australia RJ Hampton bring to the Denver Nuggets?
A surprise addition of Marquette’s Markus Howard to a two-way contract
Did the Nuggets do the right thing drafting two first rounders?
What this means for 2020 free agency and the future of the Nuggets organization

Roundtable: Rapid Reaction to the Nuggets acquiring R.J. Hampton with the 24th pick

2020-11-18T21:17:48-07:00

Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images

An explosive wing is coming to Denver

What was the first thought when you saw R.J. Hampton being traded to Denver at 24th overall?

Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn): The Nuggets saved their draft by adding a great prospect on the wing. Hampton was an elite high school prospect before deciding to divert from the NCAA route and instead go to New Zealand. Hampton had a tough season playing against grown men, but the talent was never a question with him. He’s a guy I like for the Nuggets a lot and gives them some juice they may not have had on the wing before.

Brandon Ewing (@B_Skip1717): Absolutely loved the pick! I thought Hampton could have been the target at 22, so the fact that Denver added another young player in Zeke Nnaji and still got Hampton is extremely exciting. Hampton played professionally in Australia last season and the Nuggets have had success — Torrey Craig — with players coming out of the NBL before. I’m excited to see what Hampton does in Denver, I think it could be something pretty special.

Daniel Lewis (@denverstiffs): This is more like it! Hampton was a lottery talent with late first production. He banked on his talent helping him get into the first round without experience in the NCAA, and he got to experience playing against grown men in Australia. He’s got a great physical profile as a scoring point guard, and is a solid pick to bet on potential.

Gordon Gross (@GMoneyNuggs): Brought a smile to my face. Denver taking a player who falls in the draft but has loads of talent had a familiar ring to it. If Zeke Nnaji felt like a bit of an overdraft even though he fell in the high range of expectations, then Hampton felt like a steal and who doesn’t love a steal on draft night?

Was this pick a “best player available” or “best fit” move?

Blackburn: Definitely a BPA selection. Denver’s in a good spot to go for upside with not a ton of pressing needs on the roster. They decided to go with an elite athlete at shooting guard who’s raw in terms of his actual impact but should be good down the line. I like the Nuggets taking a chance here.

Ewing: This is 100 percent a BPA move and I love it! The Nuggets went need with the Nnaji pick, but they definitely went BPA when making the trade for Hampton. Just like they did when they took a chance on Michael Porter Jr. and Bol Bol, Hampton was another highly rated prospect coming out of high school who slid on draft night. The Nuggets took a chance on MPJ and Bol, which has worked out pretty nicely. Hopefully the same can be said about Hampton in a few years.

Lewis: Definitely best player available. I like that they sent over a future first to get a player to start developing now. They are going to need Hampton in 2021-22 and beyond, and that future pick doesn’t help them now. They can get him in the film room and weight room, working with him in person to develop him into a future contributor.

Gross: BPA, and potentially the signifier of a coming trade as well, either now or at the deadline.

Will Hampton have a significant role in the 2020-21 season?

Blackburn: Unless something crazy happens, I expect Hampton to play less than 300 minutes on the Nuggets next year, and that’s okay. With Gary Harris and Will Barton ahead of him at shooting guard, Hampton has veterans he can study while continuing to refine his game in low pressure situations.

Ewing: Gary Harris and Will Barton are both ahead of Hampton on the depth chart, so I don’t expect him to play unless another move goes down. Still, I think Hampton will get some time next season and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make an instant impact.

Lewis: I don’t think so. PJ Dozier can fill the fifth guard role for the team, and Hampton can save his rookie eligibility for the next season. He can be an elite towel waver and cheerleader as he learns how to play in the NBA.

Gross: Hampton is raw but will need minutes to develop and will need to get them from one of Denver’s guards, so his drafting might be the harbinger of a trade, this offseason or during the season, much as Kenneth Faried’s drafting was. He’s already been playing in Australia and while he’s unlikely to be in Denver’s playoff rotation barring some changes he can certainly take some of the minutes burden off Denver’s oft-injured guards and try to keep them fresher for post-season duty.

Grade the draft pick:

Blackburn: It’s gotta be an A. I didn’t expect Hampton to be there at 22. The Nuggets went Nnaji which caught me by surprise, but Hampton was a good recovery.

Ewing: I think Hampton’s going to be a stud. A+ pick by Tim Connelly and the Nuggets front office.

Lewis: A. Love this pick. Lots of potential, and I’m glad they bought a lottery ticket. Redeemed their first round.

Gross: A-. Hampton is not the talent that MPJ was, but also doesn’t have the massive injury concerns that either he or Bol Bol came into the league with. Hampton fell, and could be considered a similar steal, but this isn’t a draft where just falling from expectations guarantees that. Still he has a lot of potential and brings a different bag of tricks than Jamal Murray in terms of slashing prowess and bounce. He’s got more in common with Will Barton that way, and as Denver may be in the market for a Barton replacement that’s a really good pickup.

Roundtable: Rapid Reaction to the Nuggets selecting Zeke Nnaji at 22

2020-11-18T21:17:29-07:00

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Denver’s first pick was a bit of a surprise, but has a lot of upside

What was the first thought that came to mind when you saw Zeke Nnaji drafted 22nd overall?

Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn): This pick was definitely a confusing one initially, but after seeing the R.J. Hampton selection, it makes more sense. The Nuggets decided they wanted to go with a big man prospect that they trusted to be solid at the next level. Nnaji was lower on my personal board, but if the Nuggets believe in him, then that’s all that matters.

Gage Bridgford (@GbridgfordNFL): I don’t know that disappointed is the right word, but, with some of the other guys available on the board, that’s probably what you would have to go with. A move for a young center makes it clear that that Mason Plumlee likely won’t be back next year. If Denver wanted to go in the direction of a backup center or power forward, I would have like to have seen them grab some of the other options that were on the board.

Brandon Ewing (@B_Skip1717): Who is this guy? No seriously, I had no idea who Zeke Nnaji was until about 20 minutes ago. Upon further research, I’m excited about the Nuggets selection. Nnaji is a high energy player and could help provide the Nuggets with a nice boost off the bench. With all the uncertainly surrounding the Nuggets big men this offseason, Nnaji is great insurance in cause one of Mason Plumlee, Paul Millsap, or Jerami Grant depart in free agency,

Daniel Lewis (@denverstiffs): Well at least he’s athletic. I’m still recovering from the 2017 first round, and it doesn’t help when the Nuggets take someone I had ranked No. 50 on my board (50 out of 50). He’s the Plumlee replacement, because he dunks and rebounds, and that’s about it. Hopefully he improves his outside shot a little bit, he’s not bad but it’s not a strength for him.

Gordon Gross (@GMoneyNuggs): “Kenneth Faried with a shot outside 5 feet is not a bad player.” He can play some small ball 5 but is a bit light to hold up there against the Nurkics of the NBA. He’s a bit of a tweener but has a huge motor and is a willing screener and hungry rebounder. His shot looks fine, just not used for his college team. And in reviewing my impressions from his college tape his defensive potential is there too, which makes him a step up from a Faried type. The Nuggets might have just drafted rebounding Jerami Grant, because this is how Jerami looked in college too. Nothing wrong with that.

Was this pick a “best player available” or “best fit” move?

Blackburn: This was definitely a “best fit” selection. Nnaji represented one of the final big man prospects left on the board that the Nuggets felt comfortable selecting in the first round.

Bridgford: I think it has to be best fit because there were better players on the board. They needed more wing depth, and they didn’t address that with this pick. Zeke fills a role on offense that they don’t have right now, and is different from Bol Bol and Nikola Jokic. He could fit in well with Monte Morris in the pick-and-roll on the second unit.

Ewing: Best player. A part of me wanted to say best fit, but the Nuggets almost always go with BPA, which makes me think Nnaji was high on their draft board.

Lewis: Best player. I honestly think they bought into his measurables and felt like he had the highest ceiling of any other player left on the board.

Gross: Best player. They don’t know his fit, but even though Denver is light on front court players at the moment they aren’t likely to view a teen with part of one college season under his belt as an immediate help move. They like Zeke, and think they can develop him. Who am I to say otherwise?

Will Nnaji have a significant role in the 2020-21 season?

Blackburn: It’s possible, but I’d lean no. With Jerami Grant, Mason Plumlee, and Paul Millsap heading into free agency, this pick feels like insurance on a big man ready to contribute in small bursts right away. Nnaji is a more traditional post scorer and rebounder who has some touch and feel on the perimeter, but probably not enough to play a significant role right away.

Bridgford: I have my doubts. The team has Jokic at the center position, and, if they bring back Jerami Grant, he’d be the starting power forward with Michael Porter Jr. sliding up to that spot when they put more guards on the floor. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Nnaji ride the pine for the majority of the year unless the team gets into a big blowout scenario.

Ewing: I don’t really see Nnaji having an instant impact unless one of the Nuggets big men — Plumlee, Grant, Millsap — depart in free agency. Even then I think it might be tough for Nnaji to see the floor next season.

Lewis; I hope not! I don’t think he’s ready to play in the NBA. He’s going to need some polish in the G-League.

Gross: I expect it to be a development year. He shouldn’t have an immediate rotation spot, especially with no Summer League or extended pre-season. His job is to understudy Jerami Grant (assuming he’s back) and hopefully learn how to do what he does. Immediate minutes don’t look to be in the cards, especially if Bol Bol is still here.

Grade the draft pick:

Blackburn: Let’s go C. I would have preferred Xavier Tillman in this spot, but Nnaji represents a player who complements Bol Bol’s skill set reasonably well. Maybe those two can develop into Denver’s backup frontcourt together.

Bridgford: I’ll give it a C-. I can’t dog the pick a ton because we haven’t seen him play at the NBA level yet. However, I have to knock it down a fair bit because there were other players that I think would have been better at making an impact this season. With Jokic ahead of him, he’ll likely be nothing more than a rotational big off the bench with some lob ability.

Ewing: I’ll go with a B. Not the most exciting of moves, but Nnaji is a high energy player who could earn a spot in the Nuggets rotation down the road.

Lewis: A D. If you’re going to draft a big, why not take Xavier Tillman, who was an elite defender, and can do things like dribble and pass?

Gross: B-. The issue for Denver is whether they can turn him into a player capable of playing next to Jokic, which means defending multiple positions and finishing rolls and back cuts. He can handle the last couple of duties, but it’s the defense that will need work. But Denver knows what they need, and had to draft for it - they just don’t want a Trey Lyles situation. But at #22 in the draft, taking fliers on upside fits Denver’s front office to a T.

Denver Nuggets trade for 24th overall pick in 2020 NBA Draft, select R.J. Hampton

2020-11-18T20:41:23-07:00

Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images

Connelly is at it again

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Denver Nuggets have acquired the 24th overall pick from the New Orleans Pelicans and will use it to select R.J. Hampton of the New Zealand Breakers.

New Orleans is selecting RJ Hampton for the Nuggets, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 19, 2020

Hampton joins Zeke Nnaji as selections by the Nuggets in tonight’s draft. The Nuggets last had multiple first round picks in 2016 when they selected Jamal Murray, Juancho Hernangomez and Malik Beasley. With only 9 players currently on the roster the Nuggets clearly looked to address depth while also picking up high ceiling prospects in the draft. Hampton is more the latter than the former for Denver.

A five star recruit and frequent member of USA Basketball, Hampton was one of the highest touted prospects coming out of high school with some believing he was headed towards being the number one overall pick in the 2020 draft. He changed course after being heavily recruited by some of the best college basketball programs in the country however and elected to takes his game to the NBL in Australia. Unlike LaMelo Ball, who also decided to forgo college for the NBL, Hampton was not able to maintain his high draft profile once in the Oceanic league. He struggled to play in a more physical league filled with professionals and dealt with a hip injury that sidelined him for several games. Ultimately his draft stock took a slide.

At pick 24 Hampton is still good value, despite his falling draft stock. Some mock drafts had him projected to be a selection in the teens. He will become the latest in a pattern of young players with high ceilings that the Nuggets are willing to take their time on while he develops. It will be quite the surprise if Hampton gets any notable playing time in his rookie season with Denver as he sits behind a slew of guards who have proven themselves to coach Michael Malone as rotation level players in the NBA. Hampton is also just 19 years of age.

What he’ll bring to the Nuggets, beyond depth and potential, is length and athleticism at the point guard position. Hampton’s wingspan measures at 6’7” and he uses that length and his quickness to harass opposing guards. On offense he is an effective slasher and finisher. Where he struggles is with shooting, barely scraping above 40% from the floor in the NBL. Hampton gives the Nuggets options moving forward in terms of backup point guards. In many ways he is somewhat redundant to P.J. Dozier, but with Monte Morris heading into the final year of his contract and Dozier’s final year of his contract in 21/22 non-guaranteed Hampton gives the Nuggets long term depth and security at the backup point guard slot.

According to Andrew Lopez and Zach Lowe of ESPN, the pick Denver traded will not convey to the Pelicans until at least 2023 and is lottery protected.

This pick will be lottery-protected in 2023, source says. https://t.co/xfr0kyPO2i
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) November 19, 2020

Tim Connelly and the Nuggets front office clearly felt that Hampton was a player who fit what they are trying to build, given that they surrendered a future first round pick to get him. It remains to be seen if that gamble will pay off but with the Nuggets looking like a team that will compete deep into the playoffs for many years to come it seems unlikely that the pick they traded to select Hampton will fall much higher than 24th overall, if not lower. Here’s hoping Hampton finds success in a Nuggets uniform, at least more so than the last time they took a player 24th overall...that was Tyler Lydon.

All in all a low risk high reward pick for the Nuggets which is their draft modus operandi these days. Perhaps the biggest immediate impact that can be gleaned from Denver selecting not one but two first rounders is that they will most likely not be looking to make big moves in free agency given they just occupied two fully guaranteed roster spots with rookies (first round pick contracts are guaranteed for the first two seasons). This is a smart move financially for the Nuggets who have very limited room under the luxury tax threshold, but will also leave them in a precarious position should their depth be needed and either Hampton or Nnaji sees significant playing time as a rookie. Time will tell.

Nuggets pick Zeke Nnaji in 2020 NBA Draft

2020-11-18T20:26:50-07:00

Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

The Denver Nuggets have selected Zeke Nnaji with the No. 22 overall pick in the NBA Draft.

The Denver Nuggets have selected Zeke Nnaji from the University of Arizona with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Nnaji played one season with the Wildcats, and averaged 16.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game. He’s a big athlete, checking in at 6’11” and 240 pounds. Nnaji was one of the best players in the Pac-12, and rose up draft boards thanks to strong performances in offseason workouts.

Strengths

Motor. Nnaji is aggressive around the rim, using his length and athleticism to battle for rebounds. He fights and fights, playing through bigger players and around slower players. He is a reliable scorer inside the paint, always trying to dunk the ball.

Transition. Able to get down the court quickly and score, this is the best way for him to score. He’s able to find lanes, catch the ball, and score to help push the pace. Has an okay shot, there’s potential there.

Weaknesses

Defense. He’s not someone that can contain on the perimeter. He’s not fluid in his hips, and he’s slow to pivot to chase down guards. He wasn’t much of a shot blocker despite his size, and will need some work.

Fit

He’s going to be a backup big for the Nuggets, hopefully someone that can learn how to play alongside Nikola Jokic at some point. Not sure if he’s going to be a reliable center, and he’s too slow to play power forward. He rebounds the ball well, which is a trait the Nuggets like to look for, but not really sure where he fits in with this team if he can’t become a better rim protector.

Analysis

I don’t like the pick very much. I would have rather seen the Nuggets take Tyler Bey, RJ Hampton, or Xavier Tillman. I had Nnaji ranked No. 50 on my board.

Live 2020 NBA Draft Thread

2020-11-18T17:30:00-07:00

Photo by Panagiotis Moschandreou/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Will the Nuggets draft the next steal?

Post your 2020 NBA Draft thoughts here.

First Round Results:

1. Minnesota Timberwolves : SG Anthony Edwards, Georgia

2. Golden State Warriors : C James Wiseman, Memphis

3. Charlotte Hornets : PG LaMelo Ball, USA

4. Chicago Bulls: SF Patrick Williams, Florida State

5. Cleveland Cavaliers: SF Isaac Okoro, Auburn

6. Atlanta Hawks : C Onyeka Okongwu, USC

7. Detroit Pistons : PG Killian Hayes, France

8. New York Knicks : PF Obi Toppin, Dayton

9. Washington Wizards: SF Deni Avdija, Israel

10. Phoenix Suns: C/PF Jalen Smith, Maryland

11. San Antonio Spurs: SG/SF Devin Vassell, Florida State

12. Sacramento Kings: G Tyrese Haliburton, Iowa State

13. New Orleans Pelicans: PG Kira Lewis Jr., Alabama

14. Boston Celtics (via MEM): SG/SF Aaron Nesmith, Vanderbilt

15. Orlando Magic: PG Cole Anthony, North Carolina

16. Detroit Pistons (via POR): C/PF Isaiah Stewart, Washington

17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via MIN): F Aleksej Pokusevski, Serbia

18. Dallas Mavericks: SG Josh Green, Arizona

19. Detroit Pistons (via BKN): F Saddiq Bey, Villanova

20. Miami Heat: C/PF Precious Achiuwa, Memphis

21. Philadelphia 76ers (via OKC): G Tyrese Maxey, Kentucky

22. Denver Nuggets (via HOU): C/PF Zeke Nnaji, Arizona

23. Minnesota Timberwolves (via NYK): G Leandro Bolmaro, Argentina

24. Denver Nuggets (via NOP): G RJ Hampton, USA

25. New York Knicks (via DEN): SG Immanuel Quickley, Kentucky

26. Boston Celtics: PG Peyton Pritchard, Oregon

27. Utah Jazz (via NY): C Udoka Azuibuike, Kansas

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via OKC): F Jaden McDaniels, Washington

29. Toronto Raptors: PG Malachi Flynn, San Diego State

30. Memphis Grizzlies (via BOS): G Desmond Bane, TCU

Denver Stiffs 2020 NBA Draft Primer

2020-11-18T00:00:14-07:00

Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Will the Nuggets be lucky enough to select the next Michael Porter Jr. in the middle of the first round?

The 2020 NBA Draft is officially here.

After initially being scheduled in late June and interrupted due to COVID-19 along with the way of life in the United States, the NBA is getting back on track. The draft signifies the turning point from one season to another, and even though things won’t be going back to normal any time soon, this event will be a sign of relief for those involved. 2020 draft prospects have been in limbo for five extra months, front offices have been researching the same draft class for way too long, and coaching staffs will be eager to get new prospects to training camp as soon as possible.

Now, we finally get to see what many expect to be an incredibly turbulent event full of surprises before our very eyes.

Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

The Essentials

Who: The NBA

What: 2020 NBA Draft

Where to watch: ESPN, and on Zoom for media!

When: 7:00pm ET, but we know the picks will probably start 30 minutes later

How many picks do the Nuggets have?

The Nuggets have one selection, the 22nd pick in the draft. Through trades prior to last season, it appeared that the Nuggets would have zero selections after sending their 2020 first round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire Jerami Grant. At the 2020 trade deadline, the Nuggets made a surprise move by trading Malik Beasley, Juancho Hernangomez, and Jarred Vanderbilt to the Minnesota Timberwolves. They received Keita Bates-Diop, Noah Vonleh, Troy Daniels, and most importantly for tonight, a first round pick by way of the Houston Rockets.

The Nuggets do not have a second round draft pick, but don’t be surprised if they acquire one at some point prior to or during the draft.

Denver Stiffs NBA Draft Resources

Mock Draft done by Daniel Lewis on Tuesday night can be found here
Big Board done by Ryan Blackburn last week can be found here
All 20 NBA Draft prospect profiles done by Stiffs writers can be found here

Biggest questions for tonight

What will the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors do at the top?

The entire league is flummoxed right now. It has been a long time since the NBA has been this turbulent, and it starts with the two teams selecting at the top of the draft. The Minnesota Timberwolves are in an impossible situation. With Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell, the Wolves have needs to fill on the wing and at forward. The problem? None of the best prospects play those positions and are all underwhelming as star talents. LaMelo Ball is a ball dominant point guard who clashes with Russell. James Wiseman is an athletic 7’1” center who plays the same position as Towns. Anthony Edwards is the closest to a good positional fit at shooting guard, but the Wolves have drafted or traded for all three of Josh Okogie, Jarrett Culver, and Malik Beasley in the last two seasons.

In the Bay area, it’s no secret that the Warriors wanted to move this selection for a star player, but after receiving tepid interest around the league for players that fit “star” criteria, no one is really sure what the Warriors are going to do. They have championship aspirations with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green all over 30, and a young rookie likely isn’t moving the needle for them this season. Do they trade the pick? Do they select someone young that could be helpful immediately like James Wiseman? It’s a curious situation.

How crazy do the trades get?

On Sunday, Chris Paul was traded to the Phoenix Suns for Kelly Oubre, Ricky Rubio, and other stuff the moment trades were allowed. On Monday, the Milwaukee Bucks acquired Jrue Holiday for Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, three first round picks, and two pick swaps in the alternating seasons. Robert Covington was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers as the Houston Rockets come apart at the seams in spectacular fashion.

League executives believe things could get really wild on draft night. After not having the ability to maneuver and change things up for nine months, the sense around the league is that general managers and team decision makers will go to major lengths to make changes that could shake up the league. There’s a chance that James Harden gets moved during the draft. There’s a chance starters that aren’t even in trade discussions are moved if the price is right.

We will cover it all at Denver Stiffs.

What will the Denver Nuggets do?

The ultimate question Nuggets fans are demanding the answer to is what the Nuggets plan to do now that Holiday is off the board as a trade candidate. Rumors circulated that the Nuggets were attempting to move into the top 10 of this draft to re-route a high draft pick in a Holiday trade, but that ship has sailed. It’s unlikely that the Nuggets will move up in this draft, given their team needs and the championship level of expectations heading into the 2020-21 season.

So, will the Nuggets select 22nd overall? If so, who?

Below is a video created by Denver Stiffs speculating on the fit of three prospects: Josh Green, Tyler Bey, and Desmond Bane. The Nuggets may select one of those players, or they may decide to go a different route. They may even look to add a second rounder in this draft. For more information on individual prospects, read the Denver Stiffs 2020 NBA Draft Big Board.

We hope you enjoy draft night!

Denver Stiffs Mock Draft 1.0

2020-11-17T21:38:56-07:00

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

The 2020 NBA Draft is here, and it’s time for our pre-draft coverage to come to an end.

It’s time to put down your pencils, lean back from your computer screen, take a deep sigh, and let the chips land where they fall — tonight is the 2020 NBA Draft.

Every year it’s a long, steady race to study prospects, watch film (who watches things on film nowadays anyways?), pore over stats, and put together rankings for the NBA Draft. This season was unlike any other, with Covid-19 interrupting the year and throwing draft prep into the blender. What’s come out is the result of a few extra months to study less games than usual for every prospect. It’s hard to come to a decision about certain players without seeing them compete for a full season, work out against other prospects, and even talk to them face-to-face.

Every year I find a few players I fall for, and this year is no different. I have a few favorites up and down the board, and am hopeful that they wind up in a good situation where they can thrive. It’s good when new players find ways to be successful, but many of them won’t find that immediately if at all. You always hope for the best, but not every player drafted will wind up reaching their ceiling. Some may never even see more than a few minutes of actual court time — it’s impossible to know for sure with any player.

Here’s my best attempt at predicting the order of the players selected tonight. There may be a few trades that get announced between time of publishing and the draft, and that’s okay — this is more a way to show which needs teams across the league are trying to fill, and to give a sense of how every domino may fall.

Enjoy the draft. Free agency starts in a few hours, and then training camp, followed by the regular season. The Nuggets will be in positional battles before we can blink an eye.