The Nuggets had conversations with multiple teams in the days leading up to the draft in an effort to land a marquee player. But those talks never materialized into a trade.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, one of Denver’s rivals in the Northwest Division, pulled off the day’s blockbuster trade, landing star guard Jimmy Butler from the in exchange for Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn. The Bulls also got the No. 7 pick from Minnesota for Chicago’s No. 16 pick.
Multiple reports surfaced hours before the draft that the Nuggets and Bulls spoke about a trade that would have involved Butler and a number of Denver’s young players, but it is unclear how far those talks progressed.
The Nuggets also entertained a trade with the that would have brought point guard Eric Bledsoe to Denver for and the No. 13 overall pick, according to ESPN.
In the end, the Nuggets did make a minor deal, picking up forward Trey Lyles from Utah along with the No. 24 pick — which the Nuggets used to select Syracuse forward Tyler Lydon — in exchange for the rights to Donovan Mitchell, whom the Nuggets selected with the 13th pick.
It just wasn’t the trade that moved the needle like the one Minnesota made.
Connecting roots. Nuggets guard has plenty in common with new teammate Lyles, the forward who the Nuggets acquired in a draft-day trade with the .
Like Murray, Lyles was a lottery pick out of Kentucky. Lyles was the 12th overall pick in 2015, Murray the seventh selection in 2016. Both players also hail from Canada. Murray is from Kitchener, Ontario. Lyles is from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Murray and Lyles represent two of the nine Canadian players currently under NBA contract for next season.
Nuggets offer Plumlee. The Nuggets made a one-year qualifying offer of $4.59 million to Mason Plumlee, making the forward a restricted free agent.
The qualifying offer is the necessary step in making a player a restricted free agent. Plumlee could accept the offer and become an unrestricted free agent in 2018, but it’s more likely he will field offers for a long-term contract. If any NBA team signs Plumlee to an offer sheet, the Nuggets would have seven days to match it.
Plumlee joined the Nuggets in February in a trade that sent center and a first-round pick in Thursday’s draft to Portland.
Tyler Lydon
Age: 21
Position: Small forward/power forward
Ht: 6-10
Wt: 225
HS: New Hampton Prep (N.H.)
College: Syracuse
At a glance: All-ACC honorable mention last season as a sophomore. … Second-leading scorer for Syracuse (13.2 points). … Came off the bench as a freshman, averaging 10.1 and 6.3 rebounds for an Orange squad that made a run to the Final Four…
Pros: Good size for a power forward; stretches the floor with his ability to shoot from long-range; fluid athlete; runs the floor well; solid spot-up jump shooter.
Cons: Limited mobility; lacks explosiveness; needs to add weight and strength.
Trey Lyles (acquired in trade with Utah Jazz)
Age: 21
Position: F
Ht: 6-10
Wt: 234
HS: Arsenal Tech (Ind.)
College: Kentucky
Years of experience: 2
At a glance: Played one season at Kentucky. … 2015 all-SEC freshman team. … Helped lead Wildcats to 2015 NCAA Final Four. … Drafted 12th by Utah in 2015. … In two seasons, averages of 6.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 0.3 blocks.
Pros: Long and athletic; runs the floor; defensive versatility…
Cons: Shot only 36 percent from the floor last season; not a great outside shooter
Vlatko Cancar
Age: 20
Position: Small Forward
Ht: 6-8
Wt: 209
School/Club: KK Mega Leks (Serbia)
At a glance: 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists in 15 games for Mega Leks in Champions League play; Shot 45.7 from the field and 26.3 percent from three-point range
Pros: Quick shooting release; good ball-handling skills; smooth athlete in transition and on drive; floor-spacing capability
Cons: Lacks explosiveness
Monte’ Morris
Age: 21
Position: Point Guard
Ht: 6-3
Wt: 175
HS: Beecher (Mich.)
College: Iowa State
At a glance: Consecutive starts streak of 121 games at Iowa State; Led the Cyclones with 16.4 points per game; Second in the Big 12 in assists per game (6.2); Michigan Mr. Basketball in 2013
Pros: Rarely turns the ball over; Rebounds for his position; Good three-point shooter
Cons: Needs to get stronger; Defensive liability
