Denver Nuggets : Draft Key In Rebuilding Process
By Gary Gorski
Brice Johnson, North Carolina
If they are looking for front court help then UNC’s Brice Johnson fits a similar mold to Valentine of a high-IQ, solid all-around player, but with bigger star potential.
One of Johnson’s biggest knocks was inconsistency in college, but under the steady hand of Malone and playing behind a guy with the motor of Kenneth Faried, he could be pushed to unleash his potential on a nightly basis, which would be an excellent boost off the bench for the Nuggets.
When Johnson was on, he was dominant and a game-changer for the Tar Heels. The chance to take a player with that kind of impact in the middle of the first round does not come along often.
Three early picks is a lot for any team to bring on and given that they have so many young players already under contract they may very well opt to trade at least one of the picks, but in a draft with good depth like this one it may be wise to make three smart choices and set up the long-term future of the franchise and get the Nuggets back in the playoffs.