Denver Nuggets: 5 options for pick No. 49 in 2017 NBA Draft

5. Monte Morris, PG, Iowa State

In a draft filled with young studs boasting an abundance of upside, Morris brings something much different to the table. He’s a rare four-year player, and he’s entering the draft after one of the more successful four-year runs of any player in this draft class.

With Morris running the point, the Cyclones marched into the NCAA Tournament four consecutive times. He’s a traditional point guard, in the sense that he brings more value in his playmaking and defensive ability than his scoring. According to Draft Express, he ran a pro-style offense at Iowa State, where he was one of the better pick-and-roll ball handlers in all of college basketball:

"“Morris has been a steady hand at the point guard position as he lead the NCAA in assist to turnover ratio in three of his four seasons … He’s done so in an NBA style offense, with 44.5 percent of his derived offense coming from play types where he has been the pick and roll ball handler, creating 1.0 points per possession as a senior which ranked 16th among the 108 players who have at least 10 such possessions per game as logged by Synergy Sports Technology.”"

Denver already has a plethora of talented guards, and another point guard doesn’t exactly plug any holes on this roster. But neither Emmanuel Mudiay nor Jamal Murray are traditional point guards. And neither is particularly adept as the ball handler in a pick-and-roll.

More from Denver Nuggets

• This overlooked skill proves that Nikola Jokic is underrated defensively
• Why the loss of impact players won’t damage Denver’s repeat title hopes
• Has Denver’s risky offseason hurt their repeat title hopes?
• The Nuggets’ sneaky great draft bolsters their championship roster
• Despite a short series, the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat saved the NBA

A backup ball handler that thrives in the pick-and-roll is a valuable piece to any squad, and one that may become a pressing need for Denver in the coming years. Morris would certainly fit that bill.

The knock on him is that as he approaches his 22nd birthday, he doesn’t bring the same upside as the younger players in this class. He’s had four years in college to show flashes of developing into something special, and he has yet to convince scouts that his ceiling is particularly high.

He’s also limited athletically. Morris is 6’3″ and he’s quick on his feet, having no trouble blowing past defenders at the collegiate level. But the NBA game is bigger, faster and stronger. He is quick, but not explosive, and he’s only 175 pounds. He’ll need to bulk up significantly to have any success in the interior.

Morris is a safe pick with a clearly defined ceiling. Denver could have a use for him, but these picks might be better served by taking a swing at a player with more risk and higher upside.