2023 NBA Draft Team Recap: Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets may have been the one contender this offseason that showed NBA fans the new blueprint for these types of teams moving forward under the newly adopted Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
While we usually see defending NBA champions sell off draft picks for cap space or established veterans, the Nuggets actually acquired two extra picks in the late first round and early second to round out their roster. General Manager Calvin Booth had no chance of retaining impact role player Bruce Brown, but instead took to the draft to take a few swings at replacing him, both directly and indirectly.
The first of those swings was a 21-year-old junior wing out of Gonzaga. Julian Strawther did nothing but get better in each of his three seasons with the Bulldogs which concluded with his final campaign of 15.2 points and 6.2 rebounds. He will not be able to replace the passing and ball movement that Brown did, but he is a solid defender that also shot over 40% from beyond the 3-point line on over five attempts per game.
The No. 29 overall pick also had an impressive showing at the Las Vegas Summer League. His 3-point shooting numbers dipped some but he took almost 10 attempts per game while averaging over 18 points and just under five rebounds while rarely turning the ball over.
The Nuggets do have other options - more minutes for playoff contributor Christian Braun and/or adding last year's first round pick, Peyton Watson, to the rotation - but if he can continue the offensive production from his Junior season and NBA Summer League, Strawther should be right in the mix for minutes.
The Nuggets got even more experience with their second selection of the draft, No. 32 overall. Jalen Pickett is a 6-4 super senior out of Penn State who is best summed up in one word, productive. His play style may be a little unorthodox but he flat out filled up the box score with over 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game.
The biggest reason for Pickett’s jump in draft stock was his jump shot. Pickett shot just over 38% from beyond the 3-point line this past season and a respectable 76% from the free throw line. Those 3-point percentages were even better during NBA Summer League where he shot almost 43% in his five games.
The point guard position is another one where an experienced rookie like Pickett could look to make an immediate impact.
Obviously, Jamal Murray will hold down the starting duties but outside of 33-year-old Reggie Jackson and two-way Colin Gillespie, there is no other true primary creator on the roster.
Booth kept true to the theme of his draft just five picks later when he made 23-year-old Hunter Tyson the Nuggets third pick of the night. He was yet another uber productive super senior that showed a major ability to stretch the floor during his time in college. The 6-foot-8 forward shot 37% from beyond the 3-point line for his career but an even more impressive 41% on over six attempts in his final year at Clemson.
Believe it or not, those numbers got even better at NBA Summer League where he shot exactly 50% on 36 total attempts.
Just like his fellow 2023 rookies, the path to playing time is there in his first season for Tyson.
The starting lineup is very much locked up but with the very unfortunate season ending ACL injury to Vlatko Cancar this summer, there is real potential for a role in the second unit.
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