Denver Nuggets: 5 options for pick No. 13 in 2017 NBA Draft

1. OG Anunoby, SF, Indiana

If Danilo Gallinari does in fact leave Denver, then the Nuggets will have two glaring needs: find a new wing, and improve defensively. Tim Connelly can kill two birds with one stone by drafting Indiana’s OG Anunoby.

He’s a physical stud, and a workhorse on the basketball court. He’s got possibly the highest defensive upside of any non-big in the draft, and it’s hard not to view him as the top target for Denver.

ESPN‘s Chad Ford agrees, and he sends Anunoboy to the Nuggets with the 13th pick in his latest mock draft. That’s also where Draft Express has him slotted. What Jackson lacks physically, Anunoby has in abundance. He weighed in at 231 pounds while measuring a hair under 6’8″ at the combine. Two words come to mind with this dude: strength and explosiveness.

Anunoby already has a head start on his peers in terms of filling out his frame. It’s easy to imagine him developing into quite the physical specimen under a professional strength and conditioning staff.

Per Draft Express:

"“Anunoby has an elite physical profile for a NBA combo forward, standing 6’8″ in shoes, with a chiseled frame and a reported 7’6″ wingspan that will easily allow him to play power forward or even spend time at the center position in smaller lineups. He moves like a wing, being light on his feet and capable of playing above the rim impressively in space, as he demonstrated with a number of powerful highlight-reel caliber finishes over the past two years.”"

The explosiveness however, is less of a guarantee.

A torn ACL ended Anunoby’s sophomore season early, and that may be the reason he slips all the way down to No. 13, if he does. Not every player can recover from such an injury and regain their explosiveness; there is certainly some risk in drafting a player fresh off an injury like that.

He’s limited offensively too. The former Hoosier is athletic enough to attack the rim on and off ball, but he’s not a shot creator and his jumper leaves plenty to be desired. Anunoby only shot 31.1 percent from deep in his second season, and he only attempted 7.6 field goals a game. The jumper might develop, but there’s a defined ceiling to his offensive game. It’s the defensive upside that makes him so valuable.

Anunoby has the foot speed to guard multiple positions on the perimeter, and the strength to guard both forward positions. Some have gone as far as to say he can guard smaller centers. But that seems like a stretch given his listed height.

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Regardless, this guy is a terror on the defensive end. According to Draft Express, Anunoby averaged 2.1 steals and 2.1 blocks per 40 minutes in his sophomore campaign.

He does have a distinct advantage on Jackson in terms of the physical profile. But he lacks Jackson’s experience and his IQ, and he’s known to gamble for bad steals. Anunoby has all of the tools to be an excellent defender at the next level, but he’s one of the more raw prospects in the draft. Thankfully, the Nuggets have time to allow him to develop.

The upside of Patton is intriguing, and the athleticism of Collins is mouth watering. Allen can move too, and his rebounding ability is certainly appealing, while Jackson is probably the most ready to step right in and make an immediate impact. Denver have a lot of great options at No. 13, but Anunoby makes the most sense.

Next: 2017 NBA Mock Draft: Post-Lottery edition

Plugging him in should improve this team defensively not just next year, but for years to come as they continue to develop their stable of young talent. If Anunoby is still available when the Nuggets make their selection, then it’s his name they should call.