Denver Nuggets: 2017 NBA Draft Lottery results
By Brendan Vogt
Gary Harris was in the building to represent the Denver Nuggets in the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery Tuesday night, as they did indeed receive the 13th overall pick.
The NBA Draft Lottery is a night of high theater. Franchise cornerstones don flashy suits, general managers fidget nervously in their seats, and conspiracy theories are dolled out on Twitter as the fate of fourteen franchises are decided on national television.
A night of high theater, and usually high drama. But not so this year for the Denver Nuggets, who sent Gary Harris to represent them as they were indeed awarded the 13th overall pick.
It would have taken nothing short of a basketball miracle to see Denver move up into the top-three, but the team will be content to draft in the lottery yet again as they draw closer and closer to legitimate contention in the West. The draft has been kind to general manager Tim Connelly, and another lottery pick in a talented draft will help plug the few remaining holes on his roster.
By the time Denver is put on the clock, the franchise-altering talent will be gone. But that doesn’t mean important roles can’t be filled with that draft pick.
Between Emmanuel Mudiay, Jamal Murray, Juan Hernangomez, and Nikola Jokic, Denver has some idea of what the future holds for almost every spot on the floor.
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With Danilo Gallinari potentially leaving in free agency, small forward becomes the one position the Nuggets don’t really have figured out long-term. Perhaps they can find the young wing they’re looking for in June.
Ideally, Florida State’s Jonathan Isaac would still on the board, but that’s not likely. It’s much more realistic to expect players like Justin Jackson of UNC or OG Anunoby of Indiana to be available.
Anunoby brings a defensive reputation and potential that if realized, could be just what the Nuggets need. He’s the traditional size of an NBA wing at 6’7″. But the dude brings the strength and intensity to convince you he’s a genuine “tweener” on defense.
Murray, Harris, and Jokic provide plenty of offense, but they’re a dreadful bunch defensively. A young wing that can bring some toughness and versatility defensively could go a long way for Denver.
Small forward won’t be the only position they consider drafting when the time comes though. While the team has their starting center of the future in Jokic, his backup situation isn’t as clear. Mason Plumlee is set to enter restricted free agency, and coming away from the draft with a solid center could allow them to move on.
Denver traded Jusuf Nurkic for Plumlee, so they might be remiss to give up easily on what appears to be a failed trade. But they should cut their losses and move on if they’re able to draft the big man they want. That might be the case in guys like Creighton’s Justin Patton or Texas’ Jarrett Allen.
Next: Winners and losers of the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery
Plenty of teams are disappointed walking away from lottery night, but Denver should not be one of them. For now everything is still going according to plan. Denver has youth, Denver has money, and Denver has the 13th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. The future remains bright.