2015 NBA draft prospects for the Nuggets

[skywalker33]

Started looking through a few of the NBA draft websites just to get an idea of who we might be adding to next year's roster. As of today we stand at the 11th positing, which may or may not change, Depending on trades, injuries, even Shaw's ineptitude we could go up or down probably no higher than 8th IMO. Not sure who's entering, but if the suspected propects enter, here's a little guess that we can open a discussions on:

Tier One
C Okafor
PG Mudiay
C/PF Towns
SF Johnson

Tier Two
C/PF Turner
SF/PF McCullough
PG/SG Russell
SF Looney
SF Winslow

Tier Three
PF Harrell
PF Porzingis
C Cauley-Stein
SG/SF Herzonja
SG LeVert

Now given the NBA's reluctance to advance DEN into the lottery, Tier One is out of the question w/o a trade. Out of the other two tiers, I like what I am see from Russell. Reminds me a bit of Russell Westbrook. He can play off the ball with Lawson or spell him while Harris is playing the SG. It also allows us to let AA walk if he exercises his PO and gives us another $7.5M off the cap. If he doesn't he plays backup PG until he's ready to take over the spot. However, we may have to move up to get him. I'm also liking Winslow and Looney, but we have some pretty good SF's already, Turner may not be ready yet, and we also Lauvergne coming over soon, would like to see what he can bring. Porgingis is interesting but would have to add weight so he seems like another Euro-stash to me. Some are saying he has top 5 talent, but would selecting him put us in rebuilding/tanking mode for another year (that NYK pick looks to be of good value right now)? SG Herzonja is really the only other prospect that interests me, his size and shooting from the outside, plus he drive to the bask et better than Fourns ever did. His temperament is reason he's not in tier two IMO

Let's hear some of your thoughts..

[donaldduck]

Denver's biggest need is back-up PG and back-up wing defender. PG class is really weak this year but someone I like is Delon Wright from Utah. He's 6'5'' and needs to work on his lateral quickness but I think he is a ready-made rotation player. As for wings, I prefer Winslow over guys like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson or PF/SF tweeners like Looney and McCullough. Gallo can't be trusted anymore.

[StunnaStan]

denver really chose gary harris over zach levine smh. back to the topic though, i would like to see denver get either stanley johnson, willie cauley-stein, or winslow. if we trade wilson now, maybe we can get ahold of another 1st rd pick

[The Rebel]

denver really chose gary harris over zach levine smh. back to the topic though, i would like to see denver get either stanley johnson, willie cauley-stein, or winslow. if we trade wilson now, maybe we can get ahold of another 1st rd pick

No they choose Nurkic and Harris over Levine, and it is not like Levine is tearing it up despite getting minutes on an injury depleted team.

[StunnaStan]

nurkic has been my favorite player this year despite his lack of pt from shaw but i think levine could have been more useful right now than both harris and nurkic.

[tstrick33]

Justise Winslow has a NBA frame and gets compared to James Harden w/ Defense a lot. His numbers won't end up looking like a top 5 pick but when the NBA combine comes around people will go crazy over him. Tyus Jones would be a nice backup for Ty if he comes out. I have a Duke bias though so I need to watch more basketball outside of Duke before I start making predictions of who we draft.

[skywalker33]

See a lotta love for SF as there are some good ones. Johnson is the complete package, jump on that given the chance. Winslow is more likely available to us. But the question I have is, who goes .. Gallo or WC ? and would Winslow start over WC or Gallo ?

Duck, glad you said what I was thinking, Gallo can't be trusted, he's becoming more injury prone it appears. Shame with as young as he is.

Love Wright too, but he's not a lottery player IMO. Should we trade for a later pick and he's available he be a great backup PG, giving a very different look than Lawson. Hear his shot is a bit suspect but aren't most rookies shot needing some practice ?

SS, would WCS make the Nurkic pic a bit redundant ? And we also have Jokic waiting overseas too, the C position seems amply stocked IMO. Myles Turner though would be interesting, could give some interesting matchups at both PF and C

[StunnaStan]

i think stanley johnson can play the 3 but i think he'd get the most sucess as a sg. hes a stronger version of jimmy butler to me.

in terms of the wcs pick, it would appear redundant if we were to stand pat in terms of trades. assuming we get javale mcgoo outta denver, i think wcs would be the perfect replacment as i see some mcgee and tyson chandler in his game. I wouldnt complain if we landed myles turner either. texas produces good nba bigmen

Nikola Jokic has impressed me with the film ive seen of him. it comes down to lifting weights for jokic. once/if he can get 245-250lbs+ then he'll be able to show his game at the nba level.

[skywalker33]

Jokic was listed at 253lbs when we drafted him but I do agree a bit more muscle wouldn't hurt, especially in this NBA. Nurkic is the tree trunk in the middle for us though, just need to get his fouls down to increase his PT. And if we drafted WCS, he, Nurkic or Jokic either becomes trade bait or bench warmer and we have bigger needs and more development time.

Johnson has superstar potential IMO. Many are comparing him to Metta, I think he can go way beyond that maybe Pippin territory.

[donaldduck]

Kelly Oubre is another guy we shouldn't sleep on. He started slow this year (mainly because Self wanted him to earn his minutes) but since he has played more the kid is a fantastic wing player. He is a go-to scorer which I think Denver needs going forward. An Alpha-male to build around. Oubre is a SG/SF tweener but he can grow and fill out with a 6'07'' frame and long wingspan.

[reanimator]

Tier 2 and 3 should be flipped

[skywalker33]

Order at this time is just a matter of opinion, that's not the issue we're talking about. In order of significance, I'd say backup PG, SG and PF are our biggest needs. In this draft there seems to be a lot of wing talent so maybe we should look at trading WC or Gallo if that's the direction that looks like the most viable.

Mark Kizla has suggested trading Lawson, mostly to enhance our draft position and draft stock. Thoughts ?

[reanimator]

Porzignis, Johnson, Hezonja,Levert, Russell all fit.

Giving up on Harris?

[skywalker33]

Porzignis, Johnson, Hezonja,Levert, Russell all fit.

Giving up on Harris?

Harris could be an awesome 6th man, does that mean we've 'giving up' on him or just finding the best role on him

[reanimator]

Porzignis, Johnson, Hezonja,Levert, Russell all fit.

Giving up on Harris?

Harris could be an awesome 6th man, does that mean we've 'giving up' on him or just finding the best role on him

Just wondering. I do not think you can go wrong with the 5 guys I listed. Just depends on who you see as the core going into the future.

[skywalker33]

Johnson
Russell

Porzingis
Hezonja



LeVert ...that's my thinking. I'd take a few others before LeVert, especially with Harris on board. Turner would be way higher on my board too.

[reanimator]

Personally,

Hezonja
Porzingis
Johnson

Levert
Russell

is how I see it. Really depends on if you think Johnson or Hezonja can man the 2. Levert is better than Russell, just as dynamic on offense, better physical tools and a significantly better defender.

[skywalker33]

The only problem I see with Hezonja is he has attitude issues, even to the point his own team doesn't play him much. Porzingis has top 5 talent but needs to gain about 30lbs to be effective at the PF position. As of right now Denver needs a backup PG to help out Lawson and keep him fresh. Drafting Johnson would allow us to move Chandler or Gallo, so that would be another positive.

[reanimator]

Apparently Hezonja has matured and is playing major minutes.

[skywalker33]

Apparently Hezonja has matured and is playing major minutes.

Love you to share your information....link ?