RealGM 2015 Fan Forum Mock Draft - DEN #7

[Laimbeer]

The following choices have been made by other fan forums...

1 MIN Karl Anthony Towns
2 LAL Jahlil Okafor
3 PHI D'Angelo Russell
4 NYK Emmanuel Mudiay
5 ORL Justise Winslow
6 SAC Willie Cauley-Stein
7 DEN
8 DET
9 CHA
10 MIA
11 IND
12 UTA
13 PHX
14 OKC
15 ATL 
16 BOS
17 MIL
18 HOU
19 WAS
20 TOR
21 DAL
22 CHI
23 POR
24 CLE
25 MEM
26 SAS
27 LAL
28 BOS
29 BKN 
30 GSW

[skywalker33]

Herzonja...we need that type of go-to scorer on our team. He has the highest ceiling IMO

[The Rebel]

Agreed with skywalker, hezonja appears to fit exactly what the Nuggets need long term.

[Nuggets18]

sure, if what we need is the white JR Smith

[skywalker33]

sure, if what we need is the white JR Smith

Wow, isn't he in the NBA Finals ??? Hmmmmm

[Laimbeer]

Hezonja with a late burst! Thanks for playing, folks.

[MHZ]

sure, if what we need is the white JR Smith

If that's what you perceive to be his floor, that seems worth the gamble to me. He's a key contributor in the NBA Finals. He's been 6th Man of the Year. That's the big scary floor for this guy? Sign me up. There's also a ceiling there that can be tapped if things go right.

JR's also never had the commitment to winning or bettering himself on the court in general, compared with his commitment to personal celebrity, partying, etc. I don't see the parallel there. If Hezgonja's attitude issues are being hard on teammates and always thinking he's the best player on the floor, there's a hell of a lot more potential to channel that into a positive than somebody who often looks like they don't really care what's going on on the court.

Nobody in the draft is without risk. Give me the guy with no huge glaring weakness, and has the potential to be an alpha. The Nuggets are in desperate need of that personality type.

[Nuggets18]

i'm not saying its his floor. i just dont see the high ceiling everyone sees in this guy

did you know that he average 0.18 FTA per game in over 30 games in the spanish league? How the **** is that even possible when you are an 6'8 SG and hyped as one of the most athletic players in europe.

dude doesnt like contact and would be shook in the NBA. he would be happy just chucking 3's

he thinks he's a star but doesnt want to play like one

i'm all for drafting for potential, but do it when you think there is a legit chance of him reaching it. dont just draft potential just to draft potential

[MHZ]

Isn't that what potential is? Sizing up where they can go based on the tools we know them to have and historical context? I'm missing the big glaring issue that makes Hezonja's potential Mt. Everest. Porzingas. for example, needs to become a lot differently physically to begin to meet his potential - now that's a whole different story.

You can grow into getting to the free throw line. Stanley Johnson (who finished second on the poll) shot 40% from THE PAINT at Arizona. That points to issues with explosiveness, to me. I don't know how confident I am that can improve in the NBA.

Hezonja is arguably the best shooter in the draft, according to advanced metrics, and has the athletic tools to finish at the rim and defend. He's also extremely driven, which is where the JR Smith comp loses steam, and a trait that we seem to be missing with a lot of current Nuggets.

He could absolutely not fulfill it. That's the draft. Every single guy on the board has negatives that make you a little nervous. The tools Hezonja has now - shooting, athleticism, competitive mindset - mean he can contribute immediately. He's not a project, and he's not a "complete bust" risk that the real project Euro guys have been. If he gets to/close to his potential? Watch out.

I'm swinging for the fences. The Nuggets have plenty of singles and doubles already.