Denver Nuggets: Complete 2017 offseason grades

Drafting Tyler Lydon

Since Carmelo Anthony entered the league after one championship-claiming season at Syracuse University, players coming out of Syracuse have yielded inconsistent and often disappointing results in the NBA. From Fab Melo and Johnny Flynn to Wesley Johnson and Michael Carter-Williams, former Orange players have faded quickly once entering the professional ranks.

Tyler Lydon was a key part of a Syracuse team that made a run to the Final Four in 2016, returning to the Orange to put together a solid sophomore season. An elite shooter throughout college, Lydon’s ability to knock down shots will be his greatest skill at the professional level.

As a high-I.Q. offensive player, Lydon could soon develop into a scoring and passing threat alongside Nikola Jokic. The best version of Lydon would form a terrifying offensive combination in the frontcourt that would stretch opposing defenses to the limit.

However, Lydon is far from a sure thing, as his role in the vaunted Syracuse zone muddies any true evaluation of his defensive ability. Player after player has entered the league with solid defensive stats only to fall short of achieving passable defense. Lydon could be a solid team defender at the next level, but his lack of athleticism and lateral quickness mean he will never be much more.

Lydon possesses one of the most valuable commodities in the league, with a smooth jump shot that is wet from all over the court. But his athletic limitations and college pedigree stand out as red flags. At pick No. 24, there were not only other options but better power forward prospects available, such as Jonah Bolden, Semi Ojeleye or Jordan Bell.

Grade: C