Now that the NBA Finals are over, attention has turned to Thursday’s draft.
The Nuggets are in the market for shooting. The question is: Will a shooter fall to them at the No. 7 overall pick in the form of Kentucky’s Jamal Murray or Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield?
The answer: The odds are improving.
Word is that if there are no trades before the Nuggets’ pick, the top five selections are likely to be:
1. Philadelphia, Ben Simmons, F, LSU
2. L.A. Lakers, Brandon Ingram, F, Duke
3. Boston, Marquese Chriss, F, Washington
4. Phoenix, Dragan Bender, F, International
5. Minnesota, Kris Dunn, G, Providence
If that is the case, it means either Murray or Hield, and possibly both, will be available when the Nuggets select at No. 7. New Orleans owns the sixth pick, and it will probably add a shooter as well. Coach Alvin Gentry is trying to reshape his roster in the mold of Golden State’s.
The Nuggets have done their homework on both players, though neither came to Denver for an up-close workout because their agents didn’t make them available.
Hield had one of the great shooting seasons in recent college basketball history. He made 50 percent from the field, 45 percent from the 3-point line and 88 percent from the free-throw line. He can create his own shot and excels at catch-and-shoot plays.
Murray is a “combo” guard who shot nearly 41 percent shooting from beyond the 3-point line last season while averaging 20 points per game. He’s a master at shooting coming off a screen and has shown he can handle the ball.
Footnotes. Forward Darrell Arthur is expected to opt out of his Nuggets contract to become a free agent, in which case he needs to notify the team by the end of the week. He’s seeking a multiyear contract from the Nuggets, who want to bring him back. He has already been back to the Pepsi Center for offseason workouts. … The Nuggets could add one of the best shooters on the free-agent market to their summer league team in Jimmer Fredette. The former BYU has been working with noted basketball trainer Nick Graham in Highlands Ranch, along with other pro players, including Julyan Stone, who spent some time with the Nuggets. Fredette saw limited action with the New Orleans Pelicans and New York Knicks last season.
