Denver Nuggets: 5 options for pick No. 58 in 2018 NBA Draft

3. Isaac Bonga

• Height: 6’9”
• Weight: 209 lbs
• Age: 18
• Position: SF

At 18 years old, Isaac Bonga is one of the youngest players in the draft. Bonga is a 6’9” small forward with a 6’11” wingspan. He is from Frankfurt, Germany, and plays for the Fraport Skyliners. Bonga is extremely raw in his basketball skills, but he has shown flashes of being a good player. He is a long, athletic forward who can handle the ball, throws clean, sharp passes and has the tools to be an elite defender in the league.

This past season, Bonga averaged 6.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 21.3 minutes per game while shooting 42.0 percent from the field, 34.3 percent from the 3-point line and 92.1 percent from the free throw line. Bonga needs to improve his shooting, overall decision-making, finishing at the rim and needs to add muscle to his body.

The Nuggets could take a chance on Bonga in the late second round if they view him as a low-risk, high-reward player. The Nuggets would have Wilson Chandler, Gary Harris and Will Barton (if they decide to bring him back this summer). Bonga would not be needed right away and could be a guy who plays in the G League for a couple of years.

In a CBS mock draft, Bonga was referred to as a “ball-control small forward who’s 6-9 and is going to wind up on a roster one way or another eventually.”

If the Nuggets do not want to bring Bonga over to the NBA right away, he could be a draft-and-stash candidate for them. He would not be on the payroll, but they would own the rights to him.

The Nuggets are a playoff-caliber team and may not want to take the time to develop Bonga during the season. They could use his roster spot for an established player. If he continues to work and improve his game, Denver could be getting a guy in a few seasons that could be a meaningful contributor for them on the wing.