The Nuggets are loaded with 20-somethings — not just in age, but where the players were drafted.
Six of Denver’s top-eight players were drafted 18th or lower.
Sure enough, the Nuggets have the 20th pick in the first round of the NBA draft Thursday.
The new Nugget will fit right in with his fellow 20-somethings. (Unless the Nuggets draft, say, Kentucky guard Marquis Teague, who is only 19).
Denver has a history of finding gems outside the lottery picks, notably Ty Lawson (drafted 18th in 2009) and Kenneth Faried (22nd in 2011).
But the reality is, whomever the Nuggets draft, it’s possible it will be a Jordan Hamilton-type situation — a player the team can develop and use in later seasons.
“I don’t want to burst anybody’s bubble, but I don’t think the 20th pick in this draft is going to be better than Jordan Hamilton or Julyan Stone, and they didn’t play this year,” Nuggets coach George Karl said this past week. “I mean, I’d be shocked. If Jordan is in this draft, he’d be in the top 10. And if Julyan goes in the draft, he’d be going right around where we pick. That doesn’t mean we’re not going to draft a guy and work hard on making the pick work out, but we are a team where it’s hard to get minutes.”
If they can bring back JaVale McGee and Andre Miller, the Nuggets will be 10 deep — and that’s not counting Hamilton. So it would be tough for even a top-10 pick to crack this rotation, let alone the 20th pick. Denver could trade the pick too.
Last summer, the Nuggets made a smart deal by trading Raymond Felton to Portland for Miller. That allowed them to move in the draft and acquire Hamilton, a sharpshooter from Texas.
But Nuggets executive Masai Ujiri said “we feel it’s a pretty deep draft,” meaning teams might have a better chance at finding a Faried in the 20s this year.
“But in the draft, historically, there are only a certain amount of guys who make it,” Ujiri said of later picks. “We value our young guys, we value development with our coaches, we hope we can do a good job in the draft to get a good player. I think we’re in a good position because it could be the best talent available.”
So who could the 20th pick be?
The Nuggets have worked out a couple dozen players — Denver also has the 38th and 50th picks overall — and will host prospects Monday and Tuesday.
So far, Vanderbilt guard John Jenkins is the only player to work out twice for the Nuggets. He led the Southeastern Conference in scoring the last two seasons — and led the nation in 3-pointers made last season while leading Vandy to the SEC Tournament title.
Baylor’s Quincy Miller is an intriguing 6-9 forward who’s only 19 and finally 100 percent healthy after playing with a rehabilitated knee last season. Miller needs to add muscle but is a gritty player who isn’t afraid to play outside or inside.
Evan Fournier, a Frenchman, is a fascinating prospect. He’s a 6-7 shooter who’s only 19. The Nuggets could keep him overseas and grow their asset, without needing him to play right away.
St. Bonaventure’s Andrew Nicholson is a 6-10 power forward who played four years of college basketball. He can bang inside — and shoot midrange jumpers.
Andre Miller isn’t guaranteed to return, so the Nuggets could draft a point guard. They have worked out Kansas’ Tyshawn Taylor, who might be available at No. 38, and Teague, who starred in the NCAA Tournament for Kentucky.
Asked how he could fit in with the Nuggets’ fast-paced style, Teague said: “I’ll just try to come in and push the tempo as much as I can. It’s my style. And I’ll come in trying to defend, put pressure on the ball full court.”
No matter what the Nuggets decide to do in the draft, they likely will have at least one new player. But when he actually plays for the Nuggets is another story.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
NBA draft order
The selection order for Thursday’s 5 p.m. draft at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. TV: ESPNFirst round
1. New Orleans Hornets
2. Charlotte Bobcats
3. Washington Wizards
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Sacramento Kings
6. Portland Trail Blazers (from Brooklyn)
7. Golden State Warriors
8. Toronto Raptors
9. Detroit Pistons
10. New Orleans Hornets (from Minnesota)
11. Portland Trail Blazers
12. Milwaukee Bucks
13. Phoenix Suns
14. Houston Rockets
15. Philadelphia 76ers
16. Houston Rockets (from New York Knicks)
17. Dallas Mavericks
18. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah)
19. Orlando Magic
20. Denver Nuggets
21. Boston Celtics
22. Boston Celtics (from L.A. Clippers)
23. Atlanta Hawks
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (from L.A. Lakers)
25. Memphis Grizzlies
26. Indiana Pacers
27. Miami Heat
28. Oklahoma City Thunder
29. Chicago Bulls
30. Golden St. Warriors (from San Antonio)
Second round
31. Charlotte Bobcats
32. Washington Wizards
33. Cleveland Cavaliers
34. Cleveland Cavaliers (from New Orleans via Miami)
35. Golden State Warriors (from Brooklyn)
36. Sacramento Kings
37. Toronto Raptors
38. Denver Nuggets (from Golden State via New York)
39. Detroit Pistons
40. Portland Trail Blazers (from Houston via Minnesota)
41. Portland Trail Blazers
42. Milwaukee Bucks
43. Atlanta Hawks (from Phoenix)
44. Detroit Pistons (from Houston)
45. Philadelphia 76ers
46. New Orleans Hornets (from Dallas via Washington)
47. Utah Jazz
48. New York Knicks
49. Orlando Magic
50. Denver Nuggets
51. Boston Celtics
52. Golden State Warriors (from Atlanta)
53. Los Angeles Clippers
54. Philadelphia 76ers (from Memphis)
55. Dallas Mavericks (from L.A. Lakers)
56. Toronto Raptors (from Indiana)
57. Brooklyn Nets (from Miami)
58. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Oklahoma City)
59. San Antonio Spurs
60. Los Angeles Lakers (from Chicago via Milwaukee and Brooklyn)
