Nuggets Address Scoring Void With First Round Of Draft

With a pair of first-round picks, the Denver Nuggets addressed one of their most obvious offensive flaws, 3-point shooting.

The evolution of basketball left the Denver Nuggets in the dust. The ever-evolving game has become reliant on the ability to space the floor and knock down the 3-point shot more than it ever has, a fact most evident in Stephen Curry‘s trailblazing 402 3-point makes this season.

The Denver Nuggets as a team struggled to hit from behind the arc, shooting just 33.8 percent on 1,943 attempts. Only the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies shot worse percentages on the season.

Only Will Barton and Gary Harris made at least 100 attempts for the franchise.

With the seventh overall pick Denver selected Canadian sharpshooter Jamal Murray, who spent one season at the University of Kentucky, where he averaged 20 points per game and shot 40 percent from 3-point range. He made 113 3s in 36 games.

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At that rate he would make 246 3-pointers in an NBA season, accounting for good health and a regular spot in the rotation.

Murray, nicknamed “Blue Arrow,” showed the ability to be a precise shooter, just as bow and arrow marksman would be aiming for their bull’s-eye target. He had an effective field goal percentage of 55.9 percent and a true shooting percentage of 59 percent.

According to shotanalytics.com, Murray is most effective from the left corner where he shoots 63 percent and the right wing where he shoots 49 percent.

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With its 19th overall selection, Denver grabbed another 19-year-old prospect, Florida State guard

. In his one and only season as a Seminole, he averaged 15.6 points per game.

He was not as high a volume 3-point shooter as Murray, but he made 55 of his 142 attempts in 34 games, 38.7 percent. That’s a percentage good enough for second among last season’s Nuggets with at least 100 attempts.

D.J. Augustin led the team, shooting 41.1 percent in 28 games as a Nugget.

Beasley nonetheless is a scorer, just like his fellow rookie Murray. His true shooting percentage was 58.3 percent and his effective field goal percentage was 54.1 percent.

According to shotanalytics.com from the top of the key, the right wing, and the right corner, Beasley shot 42 percent, 40 percent, and 42 percent respectfully, his highest percentages from behind the arc.

Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly has done his job in scouting prospects in since taking over the reins from former NBA executive of the year Masai Ujri.

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Denver has drafted All-Rookie talent

and

, both first-team selections, and

, a second-team selection.

He’s also responsible for seeing the potential in Gary Harris. Harris who once given a real opportunity last season showed flashes of being a go-to scorer for Denver, shooting 46.9 percent overall and 35.4 percent from deep.

Murray looks to be an immediate contributor this season for the Nuggets. After all, you usually don’t draft a player seventh overall to sit.

He will be asked to play with both Harris and Mudiay at times, which should not be a problem because he insists that he is a point guard and not a shooting guard.

Beasley, who had knee surgery to repair a stress fracture may be eased into the rotation a little more cautiously.

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Either way, the Nuggets found two players capable of helping fill their perimeter shooting void.