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

1. Thomas Bryant, C, Indiana

Bryant was a standout at Indiana in his freshman year, displaying a high motor and an impressive physical frame. After averaging just under 12 points a game and 5.8 rebounds per game his freshman year, Bryant decided to return to Indiana for another shot at a deep tournament run and a chance to improve his draft stock.

The former never happened for Indiana, but Bryant saw his game grow. He showed flashes of range in his freshman year, though he only shot 33.3 percent from deep on 0.4 attempts per game.

Clearly a priority for Bryant in the offseason, the three-point shooting improved greatly in his sophomore campaign. He brought his attempts per game up to 1.76, while improving his percentage to 38.3.

Bryant won’t be drafted for his scoring ability, and he’s far from the next transcendent offensive big. But having the ability to stretch the floor as a center has become important in the modern NBA, and Bryant’s improvements in that area certainly increase his draft value.

The three-point production was impressive, but Bryant’s numbers weren’t exactly eye-popping. His value as a prospect lies in his work ethic, his motor and his elite physical tools. Julian Applebome of Draft Express explains:

"“Standing nearly 6’11” with shoes, Bryant measured a 7’6″ wingspan and a 9’4.5″ standing reach at the 2017 NBA Combine, both numbers which ranked third in terms of all prospects that were measured, and are in the 99th percentile historically among the thousands of measurements in our database.”"

Bryant has the tools to impact the game at the next level and that’s why Draft Express expects him to be off the board long before the Nuggets draft. He’s slotted at No. 35 in their mock draft, and they’ve speculated that he might even sneak into the first round. But again, there’s a ton of variance in second round mocks.

The folks over at Tankathon seem to think he will fall the way to Denver at 49. That’s a massive difference, and there’s really no telling if he’ll still be available. But he would be a great choice at 49 if he’s still there.

The Nuggets likely have two priorities in this draft: find a wing and a backup for Jokic. Denver should be able to succeed in the former with the 13th pick, but the latter is a bit trickier.

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Bryant is a big boy, and he’s a true center despite his touch. It’s not clear how viable he is as an option alongside Jokic. But he could be a serviceable backup for years to come. If Denver is able to land its wing in OG Anunoboy, they should strongly consider taking a flier on his former teammate at 49.