The Denver Nuggets just missed the playoffs, but they’ve built a talented young core. Here’s a look at their 2017 NBA Draft Lottery odds as they prepare to strike gold on draft night yet again.
The Denver Nuggets made a surprising push for the playoffs in the second half off the 2016-17 season. But those playoff hopes were ultimately stamped out by Jusuf Nurkic — a player that Denver sensibly traded, though inexplicably chose a division rival in Portland as their trade partner.
Despite the bitter ending, the season was full of fun and pleasant surprises for Denver as one of the youngest cores in the league developed into an elite offensive force. For 82 games, the job that general manager Tim Connelly has done on draft night was put on display, as he was affirmed as one of the league’s best GMs in June.
Connelly took over in June of 2013, and in 2014 he put was the architect of a draft night that changed the trajectory of the franchise. With the 11th overall pick, Connelly selected Creighton forward Doug McDermott before trading him to Chicago for the rights to Gary Harris and Nurkic. Later that night, with the 41st overall pick, TC selected Serbian point-center/demigod Nikola Jokic.
This is what was on ESPN when the #Nuggets drafted Nikola Jokic with the 41st pick pic.twitter.com/iyzvv8QnLf
— Aniello Piro (@MediaByAP) February 11, 2017
We now understand Jokic for the the type of player that he is: one that a franchise can build a team around and expect success for years to come. In 2015, Connelly kept building by selecting Emmanuel Mudiay with the seventh overall pick. The jury is still out on the physically gifted point guard, but his potential and value as an asset can still be salvaged with the emergence of Jokic.
In 2016, TC had the seventh pick once again. For the second straight year he drafted a young guard. This time it was the talented scorer in Jamal Murray from Kentucky. Eight picks later, the Nuggets drafted the spaniard Juan “Juancho” Hernangomez, a fan favorite and a lethal shooter from the right wing. They put the cherry on top by selecting Malik Beasley, the leaper from Florida State, with the 19th pick.
Now, as the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery approaches, Denver will look to add even more young talent to their roster. Here’s a look at the spots Denver could end up drafting and their odds for landing those picks:
- 1st: 0.6%
- 2nd: 0.7%
- 3rd: 0.9%
- 13th: 96%
- 14th: 1.8%
As Kevin Garnett once infamously reminded us all, anything is possible. But the odds of Denver drafting inside the top three are slim. Nuggets fans should expect to see them drafting 13th or 14th.
Denver is facing the possibility of losing veteran forward Danilo Gallinari to free agency. They could look to improve at the wing spot with players like Indiana’s OG Anunoby, or UNC’s Justin Jackson. They could also look to draft a back up center for Jokic as Mason Plumlee heads into restricted free agency. Big men options could include Creighton’s Justin Patton, or Jarrett Allen of Texas.
Next: 5 potential landing spots for Kyle Lowry in free agency
Will the Nuggets be mining for talent in the middle of the first round, or will the basketball gods bless Denver with a miracle in the form of a top three pick? We find out on Tuesday, May 16.