After falling to Minnesota in Game 7 of the second round, the Nuggets head into the offseason looking to retool and recapture the magic that led them to last season’s championship.
Among the first stops: The NBA draft, which will be June 26-27 in New York. Denver has the 28th overall pick in the first round.
Here’s a look at who national draftniks are thinking will land in Denver.
Bleacher Report | Zach Buckley | Updated June 4
DaRon Holmes II, PF/C, Dayton
“Can the Nuggets get Nikola Jokić a legitimate backup? Sure they can — if this is how the draft board breaks. DaRon Holmes II isn’t huge (6’9″, 236 lbs), but he plays big as a shot-blocker and rebounder while also adding shot-making on the offensive end,” Buckley writes. .
ESPN | Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo | Updated May 31
DaRon Holmes II, PF/C, Dayton
“Sources told ESPN Holmes recently canceled several workouts, raising strong suspicions that he has secured a guarantee in the back part of the first round. Coming off a productive career at Dayton in which he made strides as a shooter (38% from 3 last season), Holmes appears to have helped himself in the pre-draft process, moving himself into the first-round picture,” Woo writes. .
Yahoo! Sports | Krysten Peek | Updated June 4
DaRon Holmes II, PF/C, Dayton
“There have been rumblings around the league regarding a promise for Holmes late in the first round and sources say he’s shut down all future workouts. Looking at what Minnesota has built with Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid, Denver could be targeting an inside-out big who shot nearly 40% from 3 this season,” Peek writes. .
Second round, 56th pick: Ajay Mitchell, G, UC Santa Barbara
CBS Sports | Travis Branham | Updated May 29
Kevin McCullar Jr., SG, Kansas
“The Nuggets are hungry to get back to the NBA Finals next season and need another battle-tested player who can help immediately. McCullar may not be a sharp-shooter but he has made progress from 3-point range. He also provides versatility on both ends of the court on top of being a proven winner,” Branham writes. .
CBS Sports | Colin Ward-Henninger | Updated June 4
Jaylon Tyson, SF, California
“The Nuggets learned in their shortened playoff run that they need a little more help off their bench, and Tyson has the frame and experience to contribute right away. He might have been overextended a bit at Cal and got into the habit of overdribbling, but his role will be simplified at the NBA level, allowing him to shine as a big guard who puts pressure on the rim and can knock down the open 3-pointers created by Nikola Jokic and Co.,” Ward-Henninger writes. .
CBS Sports | David Cobb | Updated June 2
Kel’el Ware, C, Indiana
“Transferring from Oregon to Indiana gave Ware the chance to shine as he made a significant sophomore leap. He shot it well from beyond the arc for the Hoosiers while demonstrating chops as a rebounder and shot blocker. Only Clingan and Edey measured with a greater standing reach at the NBA Draft combine,” Cobb writes. .
Want more Nuggets news? Sign up for the Nuggets Insider to get all our NBA analysis.
