RealGM

The 2022 Draft is scheduled for June 23, and the Nuggets have the #21 pick (no 2nd rounder this year). The most obvious choice is Serbian PF Nikola joVic , but I guess FO priority again is going to be two-way guard despite an already successful pick with that profile in the previous draft (Bones Hyland).

For those who are interested in the whole 2022 draft, not just about the #21 pick, here are some interesting projections about TOP14 (lottery) picks:
nba.com/news/2022-consensus-mock-draft

Those mock drafts make it look like the draft could lay out perfectly for the Nugs.

Kendall Brown

Jalen Williams

Marjon Beauchamp


Seems like a really good chance one of these guys are available at 21… jaden Hardy not the defensive impact one of those 3 brings but is a guy who shouldn’t but might be available at 21.


Will Connelly steal the perfect nug for the wolves @ 19 or 20. Hate the wolves and spurs right before Nugs pick.

Coeur wrote:Those mock drafts make it look like the draft could lay out perfectly for the Nugs.

Well remember, these are just mock drafts, rarely do they fall the way they're projected

Coeur wrote: Kendall Brown

Jalen Williams

Marjon Beauchamp

You've mentioned Brown quite a bit but I don't see the fit, perhaps you can share why. With MPJ (if healthy) and Gordon, we have two quality starting forwards which would push Brown to the bench. He's got a decent mid-range game but is not a great 3-pt shooter and is not a great defender so I'd ask where you think he'd fit in.

I am coming around on Williams, I love that 7'2" wingspan, he has the potential to be a solid defender. He's played SF most of his career but I think he'd play SG in the NBA. Dude can score, he has good court vision too and does seem to be climbing up closer to our range. I agree he should be in the mix.

Beauchamp also has good size and a big wingspan but he can't shoot the 3-pt too well, he wouldn't be my first choice (hoping for a better SG myself) but he reminds me of a Mark Macon-type player.

Coeur wrote:Will Connelly steal the perfect nug for the wolves @ 19 or 20. Hate the wolves and spurs right before Nugs pick.

I'd have to point out we probably already know TC's draft board and the T-pups needs are the same as ours so there is that. The Spurs have been drafting several wings over the past few years and have 3 1st so perhaps we can make a deal with them instead of competing against them.

Some players who I'd like to look at that might be worth talking about are (in no order)

SG Malaki Branham - Probably won't be around when we're slotted so we'd have to move up to get him if that's even possible. He didn't play a lot in college so he's a bit of an unknown but he did have some eye-opening offensive games and appears to be a solid defender. My favorite player that's attainable.

SG/PG Dalen Terry - Truly a PG in a SG's body, Terry has a good all-around game. My biggest issue is he doesn't look like an NBA starting SG, although he could fill in either backcourt position when called upon. He has good court awareness, a good assist man but needs to work on his 3-pt shooting. Rising but may slip into the 2nd round IMO.

PF EJ Liddell - Already worked out for the Nuggets, he'd be an under-sized PF but could fit in well off the bench. A scoring prowess much like former Nugget Rodney Rogers, Liddell can fill it up as well as rebound. His stock has risen quite a bit right before the draft.

SG Ochai Agbaji - An older prospect that withdrew from last years draft really worked on his game and improved his draft prospect. Also had a strong defensive game, he improved his offense and now is a top 20 prospect. Likely will be gone by the time we select but since we're in a win-now mode, he'd fit right in IMO. Scouts say he's slow-of-foot.

C Walker Kessler - A rim-protecting center, reminds me of a Marvin Webster type, a guy looking to block every shot. While he doesn't have the offensive efficiency Mark Williams does, his game would raise the defense off the bench, could push Cousins (if he re-signs) over to the PF position on the bench and make that front-line scary good.

I'll add more later but still would love to hear your thoughts on these prospects, especially yours @Coeur

A few more names that I think could fit at #21

SG Wesley Blake - And yet another 6'5"ish shooter. C an't say I saw many Notre Dame games, so this is purely off scouting reports and highlight clips. Before research, I thought he had a very immature game, being selfish and not very team-oriented. However, I think this guy still has a very high ceiling and could become a star. He's aggressive going to the paint, has the ability to take over a game, reminds me a bit of a Tyler Herro type. Still needs to work on his shooting, both 3-pt and mid-range but has nice form that should work itself out, if he puts in the work. More of an offensive threat than a defender, definitely why he'd drop down to the 20's

PG Ty Ty Washington - A 6'3" facilitator, just what we need, right ?? I haven't even been looking at the PG position given Murray's return and Bones development but if we can slide Murray to SG, Bones and Washington would make PG solid for us for the next decade. Washington is an offensive-minded PG but shines on the defensive end as well, that's what caught my eye. Add in lightning speed and good handles, he was anticipated as a lottery pick, could be another steal.

PF/SF Tari Eason - Don't think he'll fall to #21 but here's a combo F who brings a lot to the table. A solid defender ( often compared to Anunoby) that can shoot, he'd could become an eventual/spot duty starter IMO. Reportedly has an impressive 7'2" wingspan thus the defensive impact.

Adding pick #30 was a low-risk, high-reward type move. Booth has set a tone to let Nikola Jokic know that we are stepping up to that "Win-Now" mentality. Regains us a little more flexibily down the road for a player that wasn't in our future, one trait I wanted to see more from Connelly that I never got, he MADE a move-on move.

Some players which think could be in the #30 range that could interest the Nuggets:

C Christian Koloko - A 7-ft backup C that has come into his own. A big wingspan at 7'5", has rim-protecting timing and we've already had him in for a work-out. I believe he could mesh with former Wildcat Zeke Nnaji.

SF Jake LaRavia - Also another guy we've had in for a workout, LaRavia may be moving up in the draft with his two-way versatility. A good 3-pt shooter, he can play either position. He would fit nice next to Nnaji and Cousins.

SG Wendell Moore - Another 6'5" SG out of Duke, Moore is a solid defender from a good program. He is still working on the offensive side of the ball but didn't have to worry about this as much with all the other blue-chippers on Duke.

Few other you can look into PG/SG Andrew Nembhart, PF Dominic Barlow, SG McGowen, SG Christian Braun

MarJon Beauchamp impressed Malone in a private workout today. Nuggets had to reach out to his agent to get him in but may have been worth it.

Calvin Booth is definitely a way more aggressive manager than TC, I have no idea who he can choose tonight at #21 and #30 (I expect at least one player available at the SG spot), but I will not be surprised at all if one of these two picks (if not both!) will be involved already tonight in some deal. We already traded our 2023, 2025, and 2027 first picks, but apart from this season's #21 and #30 picks we have some other assets - Monte Morris, Will Barton, and (maybe) Jeff Green.

KNEW Branham would get picked at 20, right before our pick

skywalker33 wrote:KNEW Branham would get picked at 20, right before our pick

I also rooted for him as the best non-lottery SG option. Then I wanted TyTy Washington who sounds like someone we can include easily in eventual trade with Washington. Christian Braun is a surprise for me, despite he is SG. I expected to see him as one of the candidates for our #30 pick, not #21.

To be honest I'm more confused than impressed with our choices.

Can't say I'm impressed with Calvin Booth's first draft, I am UNDERWHELMED to say the least

THE J0KER wrote:To be honest I'm more confused than impressed with our choices.

Yeah, I hope we're wrong, but I'm perplexed, especially by Watson. Braun could be decent but there might have been better picks. Watson was a top recruit out of high school but didn't do anything at UCLA. Hopefully they can get the top 10-15 prospect he was out of high school, but he somewhat seems like a late second rounder.

DaFan334 wrote:

THE J0KER wrote:To be honest I'm more confused than impressed with our choices.

Yeah, I hope we're wrong, but I'm perplexed, especially by Watson. Braun could be decent but there might have been better picks. Watson was a top recruit out of high school but didn't do anything at UCLA. Hopefully they can get the top 10-15 prospect he was out of high school, but he somewhat seems like a late second rounder.

I kind of like Braun, I did watch a KU game and have studied up on him, and can see why the front office likes him. He has potential to be a fiery perimeter defender which we all know we need. I think he has a limited upside but we don't need him to be more than a spot up shooter/slasher that can score when open that can bring the defense we lost with Harris. Even if he is a 15-20 minute role players by the end of the year he is an upgrade on some of the guys we have used the last 2 years.

Payton Watson reminds me of the guy who just outgrew all the guys his age and used those athletic advantages to just outplay smaller and less athletic guys in high school. In college even the less athletic guys are smart enough defenders to cause guys with limited skills a lot of issues. Some guys adjust, some don't. I am fine drafting the kid and letting him spend a year in the Gleague just to see what we really have with him.

Sounds like Kamagate is a 21 year old French Center that has defensive potential. REading up on him stiffs had him as a possibility at 21. Sounds like he is a pick and roll guy on offense, if he knows how to set a good pick and get to the rim on the roll than he would be a good fit right now.

The Rebel wrote:

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Sounds like Kamagate is a 21 year old French Center that has defensive potential. REading up on him stiffs had him as a possibility at 21. Sounds like he is a pick and roll guy on offense, if he knows how to set a good pick and get to the rim on the roll than he would be a good fit right now.

I don't know why he was still available at 46 but I am disappointed that the Blazers traded him. I think he is a good prospect and hope he does well in Denver.

Sounds like we have a PG project already for one of the two way deals.

i dont mind our draft picks, we could be getting starter at SG and Gordon replacement if he becomes too expensive on next contract,but what i dont like is keeping Barton,i really hope we trade him before the season begins, even if it means puting Braun in his spot from the start...

From Kevin Pelton's top 30 prospects:

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/34055752/2022-nba-draft-ranking-top-30-prospects-based-stats-scouting

16)Christian Braun

21)Peyton Watson

This draft feels like it has Malone’s name all over it. Braun looks like a consummate backup defender off the bench type, not even sure what they saw in Watson, gonna be one of those Marcus Liberty types where they HOPE he can turn into a player. At that point in the draft thought they’d draft Liddell or even Koloko but no, Watson is brimming with “potential” to backup our backups