2016 NBA Mock Draft: Drafting For Need

Dragan Bender, a professional Croatian basketball player currently playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Basketball Super League attends a training session at the Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv on March 16, 2016.Bender's name is not yet well known beyond hardcore basketball fans, but that may soon change. Bender is expected to be highly sought after by US professional basketball teams in the coming months. / AFP / JACK GUEZ (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images) /

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Mar 20, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) reacts in the second half against the Virginia Commonwealth Rams during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Denver Nuggets (via Knicks): Buddy Hield, Oklahoma Sooners

Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 22 (12/17/1993)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’4.5″, 215 pounds, 6’8.5″
Slash Line: .501/.457/.880
Season Averages: 35.4 MPG, 25.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 4.0 3PM

The Denver Nuggets have depth at every position, and that makes this decision a difficult one. Regardless of whom the Nuggets select, a quality player will be displaced from either the starting lineup or the second unit.

The reality is, Denver doesn’t need to add a player with a specific skill; it needs to draft prospects with genuine star potential—a tough task in a class with limited star potential.

Buddy Hield may not live up to his star potential, but he’s a significantly better shooter than both Will Barton and Gary Harris. In the modern NBA, that’s a skill that can be translated into success on an All-Star level, as evidenced by Kyle Korver’s appearance in 2015.

Harris and Barton are two very intriguing players, but Hield has the skill set to be a standout player under head coach Michael Malone.

The selection of Emmanuel Mudiay proved that Denver is willing to gamble at the NBA Draft. Hield could be Malone’s Klay Thompson on offense, as a shooter who can play off-ball or create in isolation in small doses.

The Nuggets need to shoot for the stars, and Hield is their best chance to find one.

Next: Sacramento Kings

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