With the 2008 NBA Draft steadily approaching (June 26), The Denver Nuggets will be drafting only one player from college that will hopefully affect their future in a positive way.
The question is, who will that be?
From most significant to least significant, Denver's needs seem to be like this:
Point Guard
Shooting Guard
Center
So in that order, I have compromised these three candidates based on maturity, possible team chemistry, skill, athlectism, NBA potential, player positions, versatility, and overall talent.
Here are the Top 3 draftees for the Denver Nuggets:
1. Tywon Lawson, PG (UNC, 5-11, 195lbs)
12.7 PPG, 5.2 APG, and 1.6 SPG
Ty has outstanding speed, agility, and open court vision to bring to the Nuggets. You also have to admire how fearless Lawson is in the open court; willing to drive to the basket no matter what the consequence. However his height may overshadow his talent.
2. Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG (Memphis, 6-7, 215lbs)
18.1 PPG, 1.8 APG, and 1.2 SPG
Chris Douglas-Roberts attributes are his athlectism, amazing length, good speed and great potential. CDR has the perfect tools to become a good scorer in the league. Luckily, for Douglas-Roberts, John Calipari's uptempo game prepped him for the NBA where stamina will be needed at the next level.
Even though CDR is great offensively, his defense needs work. Douglas-Roberts lacks the usual physique of a player going to the pro's and will need to put on about 15-20 lbs before his body will be able to take the long NBA season.
3. Roy Hibbert, C (Georgetown, 7-2, 280 lbs)
13.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 2.2 BPG
Roy seperates himself from the group in this one category: size. At 7'2 and 270 lbs, Hibbert has the frame of an NBA center but not yet the mindset. Roy has a mixture of moves, ranging from his right handed hook shots, 10-14 foot jumpshots and he attacks the basket on occasion.
He can clog up the hole extremely well but seemed intimidated by stronger and faster players during his time at Georgetown.
The fact that Roy never averaged more than 27 minutes per game and how he tends to look sluggish at times makes you wonder about Hibbert's conditioning and whether or not he will ever become mentally or physically ready at the next level.
My choice would obviously be Chris Douglas-Roberts, while Ty Lawson seems to be the educated bet.
Although I featured Roy Hibbert and am a fan of his game, the Nuggets will go out and hunt for a center through free agency or trade simply because there are a couple of good big men out on their market with more experience.
If Denver were serious about drafting Hibbert, they would have to hope Roy falls into the 2nd round and most likely send J.R. Smith or Nene to a ballclub for the rights to him. But then again, who would trade a player with the caliber of Roy for Nene?
The end result, the Nuggets are basing their future on the 20th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.
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4 months ago
Douglas-Roberts will provide a complement scorer for Carmelo (if Melo stays)
from 4 months ago
Carmelo Anthony's agent Calvin Andrews, has dismissed all rumors that Melo will be traded.
Which is good and bad news.
If Melo would've been traded, Marcus Camby would've gone as well to New Jersey. In that deal the Nuggets would have received:
Richard Jefferson
Devin Harris
10th pick in the draft
I was semi-sweet on this trade.
With the 10th, Denver could've selected Anthony Randolph.
Also, the Nuggets could've taken another scorer like Chris Douglas-Roberts with their own pick, #20, to finish off their new additions.
That could have been a scary team.
But the Nuggets keep Carmelo Anthony; a wonderful upside.
from 4 months ago
I agree that CDR would help the Nuggets greatly, considering that current SG J.R. Smith is a free agent and may get lured with promises of a starting role somewhere else.
Douglas-Roberts would instantly replace Smith as the special backup, coming off the bench, or even take the starting role if Allen Iverson moves over to point guard.
If Denver was smart, they would select #14 out of Memphis.
4 months ago
I'm not sold completely on Denver not getting O.J. Mayo.
Mayo's agent just happens to be Calvin Andrews who is also the agent for Carmelo Anthony.
It may sound farfethched, but a collaboration between O.J. and Denver could happen.
4 months ago
I think they will keep Smith and draft Lawson.
from 4 months ago
Its an idea that the Nuggets have looked through before. If Denver keeps J.R. Smith though, they lose there leverage in the trade market, simply because he is one of the most valuable commodies this offseason.
Denver should sign J.R. Smith, then immdiately deal the young shooting guard to a team willing to unload a few defenders or draft picks.
Ty Lawson should be effective in Denver, but something tells me that even if the Nuggets draft Ty, expect another point guard to be lurking in the wings.
4 months ago
Mayo would be an exciting addition to the Nugs, especially since the league is becoming more and more point guard/shooting guard oriented. It isn't a big man league anymore so it is possible to pick up bigs on the cheap. I like CDR oin baby blue, but J.R. Smith is just a pup and showed us a glimpse of what he is truly capable of. I am one of the most outspoken anti-Anthony Carter advocates, so a point guard is my personal desire.
Regardless of the draft, more needs to be done in Denver to change the entire culture of the team. The playoffs this year proved that a high powered offense isn't something worth betting the house on. Sure, L.A was a far superior team, but every aspect of the Nugs game that had been questioned during their playoff run were glaring in that series.
from 4 months ago
Sounding like a broken record, Mayo and Douglas-Roberts would be special with the Nuggets.
I like J.R. Smith and what he brings to the Nuggets; scoring, athlectism, fearlessness
J.R. Smith is definitely a valuable asset, but because of his high value he maybe worth more gone from Denver than staying with the Nuggets.
Think of it like this
1 J.R. Smith equals 2 players or 2 draft picks
4 months ago
If youre saying Smith for a pick to get Mayo, forget it, hes not that good.
from 4 months ago
What I'm saying is that J.R. Smith can be used to bring in valuable defenders that the Nuggets need, not O.J. Mayo.
4 months ago
Lawson makes the most sense out of those three to me.
3 months ago
I think that CDR would be a great pickup for the Nuggets at 20!
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