Denver Stiffs - Denver Stiffs 2022 NBA Draft Profiles

NBA Draft Player Profile 2022: MarJon Beauchamp

2022-06-17T07:00:00-06:00

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Breaking down G-League Ignite defensive wing MarJon Beauchamp

MarJon Beauchamp is an athletically gifted and defensive minded wing. His best skill is his ability to guard guys on the perimeter and check them with his physical approach to defense. He also has some juice offensively though — he mainly scored through off the ball cutting, and rebounds during the Ignite season. That’s what he’s ultimately pitched as most of the time, and I can’t blame people. However, he showed more juice off the dribble at the junior college level. He’s an exciting prospect, and fits what the Nuggets need.

MarJon Beauchamp, Wing, G-League Ignite

Vitals

Height (w/ shoes): 6 feet 6 and a half inches

Wingspan: 7 feet ³⁄₄ inches

Weight: 196.6 lbs

Age: 21.7 years old (10/12/2000)

One aspect of MarJon Beauchamp’s defense is the fact that he is able to use his long wingspan to prevent drives and get steals and blocks at the next level. His natural athleticism and frame make him a menace in the open floor on both sides of the ball. He is a high flying athlete and had many dunks this past season with the G-League ignite.

G League Ignite Season Stats

Strengths

Athleticism

MarJon Beauchamp, as mentioned before, is a very good athlete. He is a quick runner, has good movement skills, and is an explosive leaper. Given these attributes and his menacing frame — it’s no mystery why he’s a good defender right now, and has potential to be a great one. He gets out in transition and runs the floor well. Fast breaks end in Beauchamp dunks all the time, because he’s just on another level athletically from his competition at times.

He approaches the game in a very physical way. He bumps guys on offense to create space. He’s good at finishing through contact and in general makes himself felt in the paint. He shot 65.6% within 5 feet of the rim for the Ignite and his finishing will translate to the league. He floats in the air, giving him time to make acrobatic finishes and has the power to dunk on guys. The man’s athleticism is special.

Examples

Defense

MarJon Beauchamp has the athleticism and tools, yes. But he also has a good feel for the game defensively and knows how to keep his man from scoring. He squares up well and uses his chest to absorb contact well, not moving when bumped. He uses his length to jump passing lanes sometimes, turning defense to offense.

His lateral quickness keeps him in front of his man. He’s hard to get by due to all of this. He’s fantastic in isolation and one on one possessions. Sometimes he can have lapses off-ball, but 99% of young players do. With his athleticism, feel, and physical tools he a good shot at being a good defender at the next level. Off the bat he’d be a good point of attack option for the Nuggets.

Examples

Off-Ball Scoring

MarJon Beauchamp scored the majority of his points at Ignite off of assists. Whether it be from back door cuts, lobs, or generally just being in the right place at the right time — he knows how to score without the ball in his hands. He finds cracks in the defense and has a good rhythm to his cutting. He also likes to crash the offensive glass, sometimes having nice putback dunks. He has a high motor offensively and would work great marvelously to Nikola Jokic.

Examples

Improvement Areas

Shooting

The most common criticism of MarJon Beauchamp’s game is that he is a non-shooter. If you only looked at his Ignite percentages, it may well seem that way. However, I don’t think he is as bad as his percentages would say. He shot 30.3% on 3s in the last 12 games for the Ignite, and 39.8% from 3 at the JuCo level. There’s a lot going on with his jumpshot, and I think he can use some simplifying the process.

Another positive is that he shot 46.7% from the midrange in the last 12 games as well. He has some potential as an off the dribble threat from the midrange and if he can be a league average shooter eventually that would be a great development for him. Coming into the league I see him shooting about 30-32% from beyond the arc in his rookie season.

Examples

Expected Outcome

Projected Draft Range: Mid teens to mid twenties, but you could bet on him being a top 10 pick at +2500 odds.

Denver Stiffs Big Board: 16th overall

Verdict

MarJon Beauchamp is near the top of my picks for the Nuggets. There are areas where he can improve, notably his shooting and playmaking, but the areas where he excels are the areas the Nuggets have the most needs. Athletic defenders and play finishers. He would thrive in the Nuggets’ system and long term projects well as a fit at the shooting guard for the Nuggets. If I was a fan I would be happy walking away with MarJon at 21, knowing that the front office addressed needs from last season and still got someone with lots of potential.

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NBA Draft Player Profile 2022: Christian Braun

2022-06-16T07:00:00-06:00

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Coming off of a national championship, the Kansas Jayhawks have two intriguing wings in this year’s draft. One being Ochai Agbaji, who we did a draft preview on last week, and the other being Christian Braun. The 6’7” wing was a key contributor to the Jayhawks’ national title run and success throughout the NCAA season. His 3 point shooting, defense, grit and hustle were all showcased throughout the season. He brought a winning mentality, grabbing offensive boards, being a pest defensively, and trash talking. He is a competitor through and through.

He shot a relatively low volume of threes, but when he let them fly he shot a good percentage. Being a junior means he has a good sample size to look at, and he’s a good shooter on his college career in general. He fits the mold of someone the Nuggets could use not just for his on the court talents, but off the court he also will get into teams’ heads and annoy them. That can provide good value within itself.

Christian Braun, Wing, Kansas

Vitals

Height (w/ shoes): 6 feet 7 inches

Wingspan: 6 feet 6 and a half inches

Weight: 209 pounds

Age: 21 years old (04/17/2001)

College Career Stats

Strengths

Defense

Christian Braun is a fairly straight forward defender — he’s good. He has good footwork and discipline on the defensive end of the floor. At the point of attack, he is a disruptive and staunch defender. His speed and mobility allow him to keep up with guys on drives, or in isolation. His feel also makes him a smart and effective help defender. Having a negative wingspan, he needs to have a good discipline and feel for the game to be a good defender. He does just that.

Off the ball he’s good at jumping passing lanes and turning defense into offense. He checks pick and roll ball handlers well, holding them to just 24.6% from the field, per Synergy Sports. In isolation he is also good at keeping up with his man and gives them good contests. He keeps his chest square and absorbs contact well. In isolation opponents shot just 24.5% against Braun, per Synergy Sports.

He can struggle in the post against bigger post players, so likely isn’t a switch guy 1-4. At the next level though, I see him being a good defender of guards and small forwards. Someone reliable at the point of attack, or chasing someone around off the ball.

Examples

Off-Ball Scoring

Christian Braun shot 41.4% off catch and shoot jumpers in the half court. He has very good shooting mechanics and a great process to get his shots up. His off-ball relocation is another impressive aspect of his off-ball shooting. Coming into the league he will immediately make an impact off catch and shoot shots. He took a relatively low volume on only 3.3 3 point attempts per game and hesitated from 3 sometimes, but the process and percentages both indicate he will be an above average shooter.

His off-ball cutting is also good. He has good athleticism and is a legit lob threat when he cuts back door. Playing next to Jokic as an offensive hub, he could get easy buckets and make the offense click more. He is one of the best players in this class at attacking off of closeouts too. He is a good and functional passer, making him have connector potential.

Examples

Improvement Areas

Self-Creation

Christian Braun has some occasional flashes of self-creation, pull ups when the defense goes under off dribble hand offs, or sometimes driving to the rim. However, those are only flashes. In general he struggles to create for himself. His handle is neither shifty nor crafty enough to create a ton of space. There are some flashes, but not enough for me to buy in to him as a shot creator long term.

Examples

Verdict

The Nuggets could use someone with the attitude of Christian Braun. He’s a pain in the ass and the Nuggets don’t have many of those. His athleticism is underrated and he can be a high flyer. Add his off-ball cutting and relocation to the mix — that’s a Jokic ball player. Attacking off of closeouts also open up many doors for the Nuggets to explore, and he creates advantages off of those situations well.

Defensively he brings a lot to the table. He’s more well-rounded defensively than Wendell Moore Jr. because his off-ball defense is also good, but I think Wendell Moore has more defensive upside given his wingspan and being a year younger than Christian Braun. He’s someone to be interested in for sure, and if the Nuggets did end up picking him I think they walk away happy. However, I think there will be better options available at 21. Taking Christian Braun at 30 would be a win for Denver in my books though.

2022 NBA Draft Profile: Kendall Brown

2022-06-15T06:00:00-06:00

Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Could the Nuggets target the talented high flyer from Baylor?

Next up in our draft profile series here at Denver Stiffs is Kendall Brown out of Baylor. Brown declared for the draft following a freshman season where he was named to the All-Big 12 Freshman team and helped lead Baylor to another run in the NCAA tournament before ultimately being knocked out by eventual runner-up, North Carolina.

Brown is one of the youngest players in the draft and possesses a ton of upside as he just turned 19 years old last month. The Nuggets worked Brown out Monday at Ball Arena, so there definitely could be some interest there. Considering the Nuggets have two first round picks now, Brown is definitely someone that could be an option at one of those selections.

Kendall Brown, Wing/Forward, Baylor

Vitals

Height: 6’8”

Wingspan: 6’11”

Weight: 205

Age: 19 (5/11/2003)

Brown’s per game stats his freshman season at Baylor (2021-22)

Not the most eye popping numbers from Brown, but certainly not bad ones as he averaged 9.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while starting in all 34 games he played in. Brown shot 58.4 percent from the field and 34.1 percent from behind the three-point line as he did a lot of his damage from inside the arc. On the defensive end of the floor, Brown averaged one steal and 0.4 blocks per game

The best stat of Brown’s had to be his 63.8 percent shooting percentage from two-point range as he did a really good of making teams pay near the rim. Brown often uses his athleticism to get high percentage looks near the rim and does a really nice job of converting them.

Strengths

Athleticism

When you turn on the tape it’s virtually impossible to not recognize Brown as he is always one of the most athletic players on the court. Brown is a high flyer who is a dangerous lob threat anytime he is cutting to the basket as he does a great job controlling his body near the rim and using it to his advantage.

It’s not just on lobs as Brown is also incredibly athletic when driving to the basket and has a really nice touch, which is something that can’t be said for all high flying players. Brown has a knack for being near the rim at all times and can often out jump any of his opponents:

That's 10 points and rebounds for @TheeKbrown already, thanks to plays like this one!#SicEm | #CultureofJoy pic.twitter.com/7ElWDSFt03
— Baylor Men’s Basketball (@BaylorMBB) March 5, 2022

The explosiveness Brown plays with is pretty special for a 19-year old and is something that may only get better as he gets in to the NBA. Brown is only going to get faster and stronger at the next level, which is why he has one of the highest upsides in this draft class. It also helps that Brown is not just a leaper, but that he uses his athleticism to his advantage and he knows how to do so in a way that some other athletic players just can’t.

Cutting

Brown does a lot of his damage near the rim as he is one of the best interior scorers in this years draft class. A big reason why Brown is so successful near the rim is because of the high percentage looks he’s getting due to his cutting.

Taking the lead and making it look good, @TheeKbrown #SicEm | #CultureofJOY pic.twitter.com/IbRZSWDTRo
— Baylor Men’s Basketball (@BaylorMBB) February 27, 2022

Where Brown is at his best is when he can play off-ball and create by either setting screens or cutting. His skills as a lob threat also shine thanks to his cutting because all the ball handler needs to do it throw the ball in the vicinity of the basket and Brown is going to go up and get it:

.@TheeKbrown ties a career with four dunks so far today!

BU 43, TCU 29 | 15:30 2H#SicEm | #CultureofJOY pic.twitter.com/1Wl6ORlZrj
— Baylor Men’s Basketball (@BaylorMBB) February 19, 2022

Brown’s cutting ability is also what makes him a really solid fit on the Nuggets where he would be playing with high level passers like Nikola Jokic or even Bones Hyland off the bench. If you can work and find a way to get open without the ball in your hands good things are going to happen and Brown’s play is a prime example of that.

Versatile Defender

If you are looking for someone who can guard positions 1-4 than Brown its your guy. Brown does a great job using his frame and athleticism to stop whoever’s in his path whether it’s a guard of forward.

Kendall Brown continues to be a joy to watch. First defensive possession of the game and he basically guards 4 different Stanford players, causes a turnover, and finishes an easy dunk in transition. pic.twitter.com/iJV0FyHwAs
— Alex (Draft Film School) (@DraftFilmSchool) November 20, 2021

On ball is where Brown did a lot of his damage as a defender, the only concern regarding his defense is he would often get beat backdoor. Not getting caught ball watching and staying locked into whoever he’s guarding is something Brown needs to continue working on because when he’s locked in he possesses the traits to be an elite defender at the next level.

Weaknesses

Shooting

We’ve touched on Brown’s interior scoring — which is a really strong part of his game — but something that needs improvement is his scoring from beyond the arc. When you look at it on paper it looks as if Brown is a pretty solid three-point shooter as he shot 34.1 percent from three, but that was also on just 1.2 attempts per game.

My biggest concern for Kendall Brown is the shooting. He shot a low volume of threes this year due to the lack of confidence and hesitancy to shoot when he was open. Shot mechanics isn’t very fluid. He shot 22-66 (33.3%) on spot-up jumpers which ranks him in the 24th percentile. pic.twitter.com/RIRrnOg5Rz
— Global Scouting (@GlobalScouting_) May 9, 2022

The sample size is just to small as Brown only made 14 of the 41 threes he attempted last season. Brown was also reluctant to shoot from three a number of times and you could tell the confidence isn’t quite there with his outside shot. Opposing teams would sometimes put their center on Brown just daring him to shoot.

Brown’s first instinct when he gets the ball is to either drive to the basket or drive and kick to a teammate. NBA teams will recognize that and dare him to shoot, which are shots he’s going to have to make. It’s not like Brown has a terrible looking shot and with higher usage could come better results, but it’s definitely a concern following last season.

Off-ball defense

At the point of attack, Brown is an exceptional defender, but his off-ball defense could still use some work. Brown can lock down any player with the ball in their hands, but too often gets beat backdoor and gives up easy scores.

Despite the athletic tools and defensive upside Kendall Brown possesses, he’s a bad off-ball defender. Agbaji backdoors him for the layup. His defensive awareness has ways to go. He tends to miss his defensive rotations which leads to open shots. Team defense needs to be better. pic.twitter.com/JtIdvMUUIn
— Global Scouting (@GlobalScouting_) May 10, 2022

Brown was often slow or just a second to late on his defensive rotations at times and that also put his team in a bad spot. If Brown can improve on his defensive awareness than this is an area of his game that should be easy to clean up at the next level.

For a team looking to add more defense like the Nuggets, Brown certainly presents some upside. As long as Michael Malone and his coaching staff could clean up Brown’s rotations and off-ball defense than the chances of him being a really good or even elite defensive player in the NBA are certainly there.

Verdict

I really like Kendall Brown’s fit with the Nuggets and I like it even more now that they acquired the 30th pick in the draft from Oklahoma City. The Nuggets first overall pick at 21 felt a little high for Brown, but I would be more than comfortable betting on his upside and drafting him to close out the first round.

If the Nuggets use both of those first round picks remains to be seen, but I could certainly see Brown being in consideration for one of them. Denver is also in a spot where they are ready to compete for a title next season and I’m not sure Brown would be ready to step into a rotation spot right away.

Could he be a massive contributor for them down the road though? Absolutely, and that’s what makes him such an intriguing option for them. As long as they could clean up the shooting and defense, Brown could easily carve out a rotation spot in two years and would give the Nuggets that high flyer they frankly haven’t had since Kenneth Faried was in town.

NBA Draft Player Profile 2022: Dalen Terry

2022-06-14T07:00:00-06:00

Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Someone rising up draft boards late in the cycle is Arizona sophomore guard Dalen Terry. At 6 foot and 7 ¹⁄₄ inches, he is very tall for a guard. Add on his 7 foot and ³⁄₄ inch wingspan, and you have some measurements that can be very alluring to some NBA front offices. He’s a little on the skinnier side of things at just 195 pounds, but being in an NBA weight room can really do favors for frames. Within that frame, he has an intriguing set of guard skills and defensive presence that is among the best in the draft.

During his sophomore season, Dalen Terry earned All-Pac 12 Defensive Team honors. His all-around game has found draft analysts and NBA teams looking to Dalen Terry as a potential first round pick.

Dalen Terry, Guard, Arizona

Vitals

Height (with shoes): 6 foot 7 ¹⁄₄ inches

Wingspan: 7 foot ³⁄₄ inches

Weight: 195.2 pounds

Age: 19 (7/12/2002)

College Career Statistics

Strengths

Defense

Dalen Terry, as mentioned earlier, has a very good frame — he’s tall and long. He gives good effort defensively and is able to utilize his frame at a high level. Using his arms he shoots passing lanes very well. He had a steal rate of 2.5% and averaged 1.2 steals per game. Using quick hands and good instincts, Terry really likes going for pick sixes, and turns defense into offense. Another thing that makes his defense special is him not over-gambling. Oftentimes, prospects with good steal numbers give up looks to their man — leaving them open in search of a steal. However, Terry is good at not jumping the gun and he knows when to get into the passing lanes.

He has the lateral quickness and hip flexibility to keep up with quick guards. At the next level, he should be able to guard 1-3 initially and potentially the 4 if he is able to put on more muscle. Terry was able to shut down isolation possessions at times, holding opponents to just 36.4% in isolation possessions against him, per Synergy Sports. Overall on the season, opponents shot just 31.5% when guarded by Terry, per Synergy Sports. It shows on both film and stats just how good Terry can be defensively. The potential of his defense at the next level is immense.

Examples

Transition Offense

In the open floor, Dalen Terry is a menace. He is athletic and if he doesn’t have the ball can run the floor well — ending in a dunk or acrobatic finish. If the ball is in his hands, he has some of the best outlet passing in this class. He sees the floor very well, and transition is where he seems most comfortable on offense. He knows how to find guys cutting or on the three point line. His passes have a good amount of zip to them, and he could provide some energy to the Nuggets if they are playing slow — he could come in and push the pace. He’s a good rebound and run guy; rebounding is one of his strengths and it shows when starting a fast break. Look for him to be able to run the floor and work teams in transition at the NBA level.

Examples

Passing

Given his size, Dalen Terry sees the floor easier than the typical guard. Given this and a great feel for the game — his passing is stand out. Cutters? He finds them! Kick outs? Yeah, he can do that! Pick and roll? More like pick and...very good at passing...anyways, so he has the court vision to find guys who are cutting or relocating off the ball. He’s a decent driver himself, so that allows him to create looks for others. He makes the extra pass, and always keeps the ball moving.

Off Ball Cutting

Dalen Terry is one of the best cutters in the class. He finds gaps in the defense, slipping through them and finding his way to the basket with ease. Playing next to Nikola Jokic, it would be his best way of scoring on offense. He shot an astounding 68.6% around the rim this season, and given his athletic tools, that is translatable to the next level. With all the motion in Denver’s system, Dalen could serve as a great connective tissue. He shot 36.4% from 3 at Arizona this season. With that and the off-ball cutting on top of his passing, he can be the connector offensively for the Nuggets.

Examples

Weaknesses

Scoring

While Dalen Terry is a good off-ball cutter and solid enough catch and shoot threat, he won’t exactly be creating much for himself at the next level. There were flashes of driving off the dribble, and when he did he converted at a high rate. However, he doesn’t have much of an in-between game and was not much of an off the dribble jump shooter. He only averaged 8 points per game at Arizona this past season, and I see his peak at the next level being about 12-14 points per game.

Verdict

Dalen Terry has a very well-rounded and interesting skill set. He’s a top passer in this year’s draft class, and a top defender too. Given his off the ball scoring skills, with his cutting and shooting off the catch, I think he fits better in Denver than he would elsewhere as a scorer. He would essentially be the Nuggets’ swiss army knife on both offense and defense.

His potential as a connector on offense, and potential as a perimeter stopper on defense — he’s a very alluring prospect. The Nuggets have enough offensive firepower to make up for his lack of scoring, and his skills in the other aspects of the game are very good. He is someone I would target if I were working in the Nuggets’ front office. Whether it be at 21 or 30, he would be a good addition to the roster and someone who could contribute right away.

2022 NBA Draft Profile: Ochai Agbaji

2022-06-13T06:00:00-06:00

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Could the Nuggets take a chance on the talented wing out of Kansas?

Next up for our draft profiles here at Denver Stiffs is Ochai Agbaji, who is coming off a national championship with the Kansas Jayhawks. Agbaji enters the draft following a four year collegiate career at Kansas where he got better and better as the years went on.

After starting 16 of the 22 games he played in his freshman season, Agbaji started his final 100 games he played in a Kansas uniform. Agbaji played a massive role in Kansas winning the national championship this past season and is certainly an option if he’s available when the Denver Nuggets are on the clock in just under two weeks.

Ochai Agbaji, Wing, Kansas

Vitals

Height: 6’5”

Wingspan: 6’10.25”

Weight: 217

Age: 22 (4/20/2000)

Agbaji’s per game stats his senior season (2021-22)

It was a phenomenal senior season for Agbaji, who was the unanimous Big 12 player of the year thanks to his 18.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Not only did Agbaji put up eye popping numbers, but he also put up eye popping minutes as he played 35.1 minutes per game as the Jayhawks rarely played with #30 off the court.

Agbaji shot an efficient 47.5 percent from the field and a scorching 40.7 percent from beyond the arc. Not only did Agbaji shoot over 40 percent from three, but he did so with pretty high volume as he attempted 6.5 threes per game.

Looking at some of his defensive stats, Agbaji averaged just 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks per game as he really made his presence felt statistically on the offensive end of the court. One more note on Agbaji’s shooting numbers is that he shot a career-high 74.3 percent from the free-throw line last year, which speaks to his growth shooting the basketball.

Strengths

Perimeter Shooting

We touched on it above, but Agbaji is a lights out shooter from three and was a nightmare for opposing defenses to try and slow down this past season. Agbaji constantly got better as a three-point shooter during his time at Kansas as his percentages went from 30.7 (freshman), 33.8 (sophomore), 37.7 (junior), to 40.7 percent his senior season.

Footage from Ochai Agbaji at the Octagon Pro Day. The NCAA champion and Final Four Most Outstanding Player showed off his smooth shooting stroke and explosive athleticism in front of a large group of NBA executives. pic.twitter.com/d757lX0LOF
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 22, 2022

Agbaji always seem to have a really good base when he gets the ball and that helps him rise up and show off his smooth stroke. Not only can Agbaji create his own shot and score in transition, but he can also score on catch and shoot threes and hit a number of big shots for the Jayhawks throughout his college career.

Solid Defender

It feels like defense always comes down to motor and effort, which are two things Agbaji plays with. Agbaji is an exceptional on-ball defender who has a knack for staying in front of his opponent and forcing them to take tough contested shots:

Good on-ball defense from Agbaji here. Denies Tyty's drive baseline and then while Tyty gets a step on him; he still gets a decent contest on the recovery. pic.twitter.com/n2XG4ZZufg
— Asher Levy (@asherlevynba) January 30, 2022

Agbaji is not afraid to make the hustle plays you need to be successful and showcased that a number of times in the NCAA Tournament during Kansas’ title run. Not only was his on-ball defense exceptional in the tournament, but so was his off-ball defense as he bailed his teammates out a handful of times.

In the NBA, Agbaji may struggle to guard bigger wings, but should have not trouble matching up with most players positioned 1-4. His high energy play style and motor will help Agbaji have success sooner rather than later at the next level on the defensive end of the floor.

Athleticism

If you are looking for someone in this draft who is super athletic and not afraid to make things happen at the rim then Agbaji is your guy. Agbaji is a super explosive wing who can do some really special things with the ball in his hands near the basket:

Come for the Ochai Agbaji posterizing slam, stay for the Mitch Lightfoot jaw dropping reaction. Good lord @youngoch, that man has a family. #KUHoops @KCTV5 pic.twitter.com/cPL7XXpMtj
— Jared Koller (@JaredKCTV5) March 12, 2022

It should also be mentioned that Agbaji is a really smart off-ball offensive player, which would fit in great with the Nuggets. Playing off someone like Nikola Jokic could unlock Agbaji as a player and help him grow even more, which he already has done a really solid job of throughout these past four seasons.

Weaknesses

It’s funny but Agbaji’s greatest strength — scoring — is sometimes his greatest weakness with how streaky he can be. During his four years at Kansas, Agbaji was an incredibly streaky player who experienced a number of dry spells. Hopefully with a larger sample size like 82 regular season games, Agbaji is able to straighten out some of those inconsistencies, but they just happened to many times at Kansas.

Ochai Agbaji had a rough outing vs Tennessee going 1-9 from 3, but he has a very quick release with no time wasted on the shot. Despite 1-9 shooting Saturday, he’s still at a career best 39% from 3 on a career high 6+ attempts per game pic.twitter.com/AdNJuZZRUg
— Mavs / Magic Draft (@MavsDraft) February 1, 2021

Dry spells is something all scorers go through, but in the NBA it will be important for Agbaji to limit his struggles and bounce back as quickly as possible. Luckily for Agbaji he’s more than just a one-dimensional players and will often find a way to make a positive impact whether his shot is going through the hoop or not.

Age

At 22 years old it makes Agbaji one of the older prospects in the draft. It’s weird to think 22 is a little old for a prospect, but when some of the other players are 19 or 20 years old there is certainly something to be said when comparing ages. If Agbaji is close with another prospect and that player is two years younger than him it makes it more likely an NBA team is going to take the player with more upside.

When you look at the situation the Nuggets are currently in though they may be able to afford drafting a more polished player like Agbaji. The Nuggets are in win-now mode and Agbaji is a player who could certainly help them as early as next season. Not only could Agbaji come off the bench and be an instant scorer for the Nuggets, but he could also help them on the defensive end of the floor.

Verdict

For a team that is looking for more explosiveness on the wing, I see Agbaji as a really solid fit for the Nuggets. Even though he is a streaky player, Agbaji’s offense off the bench could pair perfectly with Bones Hyland and Monte Morris and his defensive upside would also really boost the Nuggets second unit.

The only question I have is if there is someone on the board who is a little younger — say a Kendall Brown (19) or Wendell Moore Jr. (20) — then do you take one of those guys who might have a little more upside? Or do you take Agbaji and feel good about it? I’m not sure there is a wrong answer and regardless, I think if Agbaji fell to the Nuggets on draft night he most certainly has to be in the conversation of someone who would make this team better.

2022 NBA Draft Profile: Patrick Baldwin Jr.

2022-06-10T08:00:00-06:00

Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images

Patrick Baldwin Jr. is a former 5-Star recruit and surprised many by choosing to pass on offers from Duke, the University of North Carolina, Kentucky, and many other schools to play under his dad at the University of Milwaukee. Baldwin Jr. entered his Freshman year as the 5th-ranked prospect in ESPN’s top 100, one spot ahead of Jabari Smith. He had high expectations and came out the gate playing great, scoring 10 or more points in 5 of his 6 first games there. However, Baldwin Jr. would suffer a calf and ankle injury early in the season and would re-aggravate his ankle injury later in the season before being sidelined for the rest of it in late February.

There is a reason why he isn't a projected top 10 pick anymore though, he struggled badly to end the season. He scored less than 10 points in 4 of the 5 last games he played in. Playing in a weaker conference he was expected to thrive and he did the opposite. Despite averaging 17.4 points through his first 5 games, Baldwin Jr. finished the season and averaged 12.1 points a game. Even with Baldwin Jr.’s struggles to end the season his frame and shooting ability is enough to get a team to take a chance on him.

Patrick Baldwin Jr., Wing, Milwaukee

Vitals

Height (w/ shoes) 6 feet, 9.25 inches

Weight 230.8 lbs

Wingspan 7 feet, 1.75 inches

Age 19 (11/18/02)

Strengths

Shooting

In a game versus Robert Morris University, Baldwin Jr. put up 26 points and shot 6-6 from three in that game. Baldwin’s opponent was in a zone for most of the game and he was able to recognize it and take advantage of the zone coverage. He showed an innate ability to knock down catch-and-shoot threes and relocate off the ball for open looks. Baldwin Jr. has a nice high and fast release, with his 6’9 frame he is also able to shoot over smaller players’ contests. Baldwin Jr. uses off-ball screens very well and also knows how to trail the play and step into his shot at an elite level.

But I must note that Baldwin Jr. shot 26% from three in his only collegiate season however, he had a nagging ankle injury that appeared to bother him more and more as the season went on. He started the first 6 games of the season shooting 12-30 from three but ended the last games shooting 5-34.

Examples

Off-ball scoring

Baldwin Jr. has a fantastic feel for where to be on the court, he knows when to cut at the right time and also where to cut to get an open shot. He uses a plethora of off-ball screens and movement in general to get open without the ball. Baldwin Jr. has also shown shades of finishing especially when he is attacking the rim going downhill. He is a comfortable shooter who won’t shy away and is especially confident in the mid-range. Patrick is a smart player and he knows how to get himself and teammates open, despite having poor assist numbers he knows how to find other players working off-ball and should grow as a playmaker in an NBA offense.

Examples

Ball Handling

Baldwin Jr. played guard for a lot of the season, he would take pull-up shots off of screens and was able to find an open cutter if the defense paid too close attention to him. He is able to take the ball coast-to-coast and finish at the rim with contact or will sometimes pull-up for a shot instead. With Baldwin Jr. being 6’9 he will likely transform into a wing in the NBA, but having those guard skills in his frame is very coveted among NBA teams. He is good at knowing how the defense is guarding him and can react with appropriate moves very well, is also spectacular at dribbling into his shot.

Examples

Improvement Areas

On-Ball Defense

Baldwin Jr. struggles defending the ball, smaller and faster guards can blow right past him once Baldwin Jr. makes one move. He just doesn't have great foot speed and can't keep up with some players. If he does manage to stay in front of the drive, players make the shot over him anyways as he doesn't have particularly great defensive instincts or awareness. Baldwin Jr. relies on help defense and isn't fast enough to switch to the open man. He reminds me a lot of what MPJ’s defense was like for a while.

Creating his own shot

Baldwin Jr. had nearly all of his baskets coming off of an assist, he was an excellent catch-and-shoot shooter but, he oftentimes struggles unless something was created for him. He doesn't have the burst of speed needed to blow past his defenders and doesn’t have a tight enough ball handle to dribble around them. When the ball is in his hands at the end of the clock he struggles to get off a good shot.

Expected Outcome

Projected Draft Range: 25th-35th overall

Denver Stiffs Big Board: 33rd overall

Verdict

Baldwin Jr. has scoring talent and an NBA-level frame, his struggles on defense and his foot speed make me hesitant to say he's worth a first-round pick. The shooting and scoring is definitely there but he looks a few years away from playing a significant role in an NBA offense. I think there are some similarities to Kevin Knox for Baldwin Jr., both guys were great scorers coming into the league but the lack of defense and athleticism was what held Knox back, it could do the same for Baldwin Jr. too.

Baldwin Jr. has first-round potential, but from picks 20-29 teams are looking for players that can help win games right now and Baldwin Jr. might not be that. A team like the Oklahoma City Thunder or another rebuilding team would be the best fit for Baldwin Jr., he would get plenty of minutes and wouldn't have the pressure of being in a championship competing locker room. If I was in Denver’s front office I would stay away from Baldwin Jr. unless they know something that I don’t.

2022 NBA Draft Profile: Nikola Jovic

2022-06-09T12:39:40-06:00

Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images

Could the Denver Nuggets consider another young Serbian star?

As we continue our draft profile series here at Denver Stiffs, next up is — and stop me if you’ve heard this before — a talented young prospect out of Serbia’s whose first name is you guessed it, Nikola. His name is so similar to that of back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic that all you have to do is replace the K with a V and you have talented playmaker, Nikola Jovic.

Jovic not only has almost the same name as Jokic, but he also played for the same professional team in Serbia with Mega Basket as part of the Adriatic League. The beautiful thing with Jovic is he is not only a tremendous prospect, but he is just 19 years old and has tons of room to grow as a player. Jovic turned 19 just today, so happy birthday to him!

The Denver Nuggets are slated to pick in the first round at 21 overall and Jovic feels like a player who could get drafted in the mid-to-late first round range. At 6-foot-10, 210 pounds, Jovic is a dynamic shooting guard/small forward prospect whose game has a chance to translate to the NBA. Jovic is a do-it-all type of player who can handle the ball, makes plays for his teammates, and score from basically anywhere on there court.

Nikola Jovic, forward, Mega Basket

Vitals

Height: 6’10”

Wingspan: 7’0.25”

Weight: 210

Age: 19 (6/9/2003)

Jovic’s per game stats this past international season (2021-22)

It was a pretty solid season for Jovic as he averaged 11.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game in 27.8 minutes per game. Jovic shot 42.8 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from three-point range, which is an aspect of his game that could continue to get better at the next level. Some of his defensive stats were 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks per game as Jovic certainly made his impact felt a little more on the offensive end of the floor.

Going back just two seasons ago when Jovic was playing on the under 19 team at Mega Basket is when he really started to come on the scene as he averaged 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists per game. The sample size was incredibly small — just three games — but you could tell the talent was there even two seasons ago.

Strengths

Playmaking ability

Jovic is a point guard in a small forward body as he does a great job of making things happen for his teammates. The ball is never stagnant when Jovic is in control as he does a really good job of driving to the basket then either finishing near the rim or dishing the ball off to one of his teammates for an easy look.

Nikola Jovic's passing at 6'11 is wildly impressive.

Comfortable passing out of traps, threads the needle, finds shooters & cutters, great overall in the P&R, runs point in transition, has a knack for the extra pass, makes lob passes & can pass with accuracy against pressure pic.twitter.com/SsmpCIyA2K
— Mavs / Magic Draft (@MavsDraft) June 4, 2022

For a player that really doesn’t posses an elite first step, Jovic uses his dribbling skills to his advantage which is incredibly impressive for a player his size. Jovic can create in transition and has no problem leading the fast break as his court vision is second to none.

Nikola Jovic sometimes has some very entertaining passes. Here's one of my favorites. Catches the ball mid air and throws a touch lob pass in transition. When given opportunity he's a fairly decisive passer and has good instincts. He's going to be a fun player in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/znhq1kF5NJ
— Asher Levy (@asherlevynba) April 5, 2022

It’s almost impossible to stop a player like that in transition as Jovic does a really good job of grabbing rebounds then immediately looking to create in transition. Not only can Jovic create for others in transition, but he also does a great job of making plays for himself as he’s a one man wrecking crew with the ball in his hands.

Good looking shot and plays smooth

Even though his scoring is inconsistent at times, there is no doubt Jovic can shoot the lights out and has a really impressive looking stroke. Not only can Jovic create and score with the ball in his hands, but he also projects to be a really good player off-ball who has a great feel for the game.

Jovic understands where his spots are on the court and does a great job creating in the open floor and getting his shots off the dribble. His smooth handle helps Jovic create off the dribble and his long strides give him an advantage to score in a variety of ways.

18-year-old Nikola Jovic made 5/10 3s, shot 7-of-14 overall on the way to a strong 22-point showing in Mega’s 81-71 Adriatic League loss to Igokea. The 6-10 small forward rounded out his performance by showing his playmaking ability w/ 5 assists, grabbed 8 boards and had 1 steal pic.twitter.com/rWfdTEDL8K
— DraftExpressContent (@DXContent) March 7, 2022

It’s not just his ability to score, but Jovic has really good basketball IQ and rarely forces any shots. For a player as talented as Jovic, he never forces anything and does a really good job of letting the game come to him. That overall feel for the game is going to help Jovic as he transitions to the NBA and could play a massive role on him getting playing time sooner rather than later.

Feel for the game and projects to be a really good cutter at the next level

We’ve touched on it a little bit, but for how young Jovic is he truly has an incredible feel for the game that is only going to get better. Jovic plays smooth, smart, patient, and his understanding of where he needs to be on the court at all times offensively is something pretty special.

Jovic shows patience on the post-up, using a text-book spin-move to elbow out his defender into an AND1 pic.twitter.com/dmbwistCwy
— Beyond the RK (@beyondtheRK) July 10, 2021

Jovic’s skill-set as a cutter is something that could fit in really well with the Nuggets alongside Jokic. Not only could Jovic play alongside Jokic and the rest of the starters, but he could also come off the bench and create for the Nuggets second unit.

Weaknesses

Can be turnover prone at times

This comes with the territory of how much Jovic is asked to do with the ball in his hands, but he can get a little turnover happy at times. Jovic averaged 2.7 turnovers per game this past season as he tried to create a little to much at times.

Although Nikola Jovic is a really good playmaking forward, he can be too turnover prone on his passes. Seems a bit careless at times when making a pass. He averaged 4.4 turnovers a game per 40 minutes which is too high for a secondary playmaker. Decision-making needs to improve. pic.twitter.com/zx8Fv6n6hA
— Global Scouting (@GlobalScouting_) May 11, 2022

Those forced passes and bad turnovers are something that will keep Jovic off the floor in the NBA if he doesn't clean those up. Chances are low though that a team is going to ask Jovic to create for his teammates as much as he did at Mega Basket, so with less usage should result in less turnovers.

With how tremendous of a playmaker Jovic is though a team might just have to live with the turnovers similar to what the Nuggets have done with Jokic. When you have a player who is such a good passer and loves to get his teammates involved like Jovic and Jokic do it’s almost tough to tell them to fix that element of their game.

It might be one of those things where a team might just have to live with it if Jovic commits one turnover for every three assists, which certainly is not a bad margin if most of his playmaking is resulting in a positive result for the team.

Can be sluggish at times defensively

Let me start this off by saying I don’t think Jovic is as bad defensively as some people might think. It all really starts with how much effort Jovic is giving on that end of the floor because when he’s engaged he’s really not that bad of a defender. What you see at times from Jovic is he’s either sluggish or just seems to be going through the motions on the defensive end of the floor.

Jovic is often in pretty good position defensively and rarely got beat off the dribble if he was locked in and focused. Guarding in space is no issue for Jovic and he can guard pretty much any position on the floor except for centers. Jovic is not a big shot blocker near the rim, but he can at times affect shots which leads to transition points for his team:

Love this sequence by Nikola Jovic. Defense won’t ever be his calling card but his positional size and length helps him a good bit on that end. Blocks the post fadeaway shot attempt, runs the floor, and then makes a very good read which leads to a wide open three. pic.twitter.com/W3Qh72PlLr
— Global Scouting (@GlobalScouting_) September 22, 2021

That clip really paints a picture of what type of player Jovic can be in the NBA as he worked hard defensively and then was able to do what he does best, which is make plays for his teammates in transition. As long as Jovic can buy in defensively in the NBA like he does on the offensive end of the court he should have a long and successful career ahead of him.

Verdict

It’s hard to see where Jovic would slot in the Nuggets rotation, but Denver could certainly use his playmaking ability and he is a prospect with great upside. Jovic got better and better during his time in Serbia and we’ve seen what wonders that can happen when the Nuggets take a chance on a prospect out of Serbia.

It’s tough seeing Jovic slot into the starting lineup for the Nuggets next season, but could he be an instant contributor off the bench? Absolutely. It feels like the Nuggets want to target a defensive players in this years draft and even though Jovic is not as big a liability on that floor as some might think, he definitely doesn’t have the upside on that end of the floor like some other prospects in this class have.

There is no telling whether or not Jovic will be on the clock when the Nuggets pick, but if he is I think he’s certainly an option. It’s tough to pass over the playmaking skill-set that Jovic possesses and at just 19 years old he may just be getting started.

2022 NBA Draft Profile: Wendell Moore Jr

2022-06-08T08:00:00-06:00

Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

With the Nuggets bringing in Wendell Moore Jr. yesterday for a pre-draft workout, it only seems fitting to follow with a player profile on the Duke wing. Coming out of high school, Wendell Moore Jr. was a 5 star recruit, and looked at as a potential one and done sort of prospect. That didn’t come to fruition though, because early on in his college career he struggled mightily. Only averaging 8.6 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game, and on 41.7% from the field, 28.3% from the 3 point line, and 82.3% from the free throw line.

This season, though, he improved his output a lot. He went from being thought of as a non-prospect to someone who people (including myself) have in their first round big boards. The leap in production was impressive, and he got better at the margins too. Most of the time, the box score only tells some of the tale; that remains true with Wendell Moore Jr. too. His defensive impact was immense for Duke — often guarding the opposing teams best perimeter threat. He overall looked far more comfortable in his junior year than ever before in his career — the shot came around in a big way, and his playmaking took a jump.

Wendell Moore Jr., Wing, Duke

Vitals

Height (w/ shoes): 6 feet 5.5 inches

Weight: 217.4 pounds

Wingspan: 7 feet 0.5 inches

Age: 20 (09/18/2001)

Wendell Moore’s measurements from the NBA Combine really helped put into perspective just how disruptive he can be. He has very quick hands on defense, and with a wingspan over 7 feet long he’s someone who has the length, athleticism, and feel to be a good defender in the NBA. At the workout yesterday, it really shined through. Another piece of information often overlooked about Wendell Moore is the fact that he is only 20. People often assume he is older due to him being a junior, but he is in fact going to be the same age as Chet Holmgren on draft night.

College Career Statistics

Strengths

On-Ball Defense

Wendell Moore Jr.’s frame allows him to matchup with guards, wings, and forwards. He has a lot of defensive versatility and can be used to guard an array of players. He spent time guarding the opposing team’s best players, because Duke trusted him to be able to stop them. He has quick hands, and gets a lot of steals from stripping guys while they’re dribbling. Wrap around steals, where he reaches around a player who has already gotten by him and then pokes it away from said player, are another thing he does frequently and gets away with because of his long wingspan.

Using his length and lateral quickness he is able to keep pace with ball handlers — beating them to their spots with regularity. He shuts down driving lanes and forces people to pass. Absorbing contact and remaining vertical with his length also allows him to be a okay presence at the rim if he’s attacked with drives. Overall, he’s someone the Nuggets could ask to immediately step in and be a defensive piece, at least on-ball.

Examples

Passing

Wendell Moore Jr. is very good at making the extra pass and at being a secondary pick and roll threat. He wasn’t the Blue Devil’s main ball handler, but that wasn’t because of him — it was because they had Paolo Banchero. When he was given the opportunity though, he had a good pace and feel for the game. In pick and roll, he had a knack for finding the roller in tight windows. He liked throwing lob passes to Mark Williams — he just kept the ball popping.

On drives, if he got cut off he was good at finding the right kick out pass, or dishing it to the dunker spot. He doesn’t make the most advanced reads, but he’s very solid at taking what the defense gives him and exploiting holes in their scheme. A secondary ball handling role is very much on the table for Wendell if he can hit his ceiling.

Examples

Scoring

Wendell Moore Jr. has a lot of scoring versatility. The pull up midrange jumper was something he looked very comfortable with. He became a very good catch and shoot threat from beyond the arc, shooting 45.7% on catch and shoot jumpers. It was a huge improvement over his past seasons at Duke and his jumper looked more polished as well. He’s comfortable on and off the ball, and moves well. His off-ball cutting is a thing of beauty, and would fit very well in what the Nuggets do.

Examples

Improvement Areas

Shot Creation

While Wendell Moore Jr. is someone who has some shot creation upside, I’d like to see him get better at driving to his left more comfortably. He struggled to finish sometimes going left, and I think he could get to a point of being an ambidextrous finisher. He can finish with his left right now, just not at a great rate. He also is less comfortable pulling up from the 3 point line than he is from the mid range. Extending his off the dribble range to that far out would do wonders for his game.

Team Defense

This area of Wendell’s game isn’t necessarily bad, but he sometimes has defensive lapses. It’s the case with a ton of young players and I’m not that concerned about it. He can be a tad bit too aggressive at times; leading to reach in fouls and making risky gambles that don’t pay off. However, that’s just sort of the price you pay with rookies. With proper attention by the development staff, he would be fine in this area. It’s an area to improve, but it’s safe to assume he will improve.

Expected Outcome

Projected Draft Range: 25th-30th

Denver Stiffs Big Board: 23rd overall

Verdict

Wendell Moore Jr. is quickly becoming a fan favorite for who they want the Nuggets to target in this years draft. I have to say I agree. His defense and offense both would fit needs that the Nuggets have and he has the size the Nuggets are lacking. His quick hands and steals would be welcome on the perimeter on one end — and his shooting would be more than welcome on the other. He is definitely one of my guys for this years draft.