With the last of their 3 first-round picks in this scenario, the Denver Nuggets select Noa Penda 27th overall. Penda projects to be able to guard multiple positions, which is a valuable skill in the NBA.
The Nuggets could use another Swiss Army knife defender with Penda boasting an impressive 6-8 frame with a 7'1 wingspan, who can pester guards and body up wings. He is also terrific at jumping passing lanes and forcing turnovers.
Better still, he can challenge shots at the rim as a weak side shot blocker. He also fits the mold as a knockdown shooter who can fit into multiple lineups, including with Denver. The goal of the Nuggets trading their 2031 first to the Brooklyn Nets for three first-round picks in this year's draft is to inject some young talent into a veteran roster. Especially a roster that is becoming increasingly expensive.
However, adding Thomas Sorber, Will Riley, and lastly Noa Penda would give them three cheap prospects that can play and guard multiple positions. If two of the three pan out and emerge as rotation players or even starting-caliber players, then it could extend the Nuggets title window.
It might come back to haunt them in 2031, but they should do everything they can to maximize the time they have with Nikola Jokic now, and this move might do so.
The reigning champion Boston Celtics will have a pick in this year's draft, and that gives them an opportunity to add a cheap young prospect to a stacked roster. With the Celtics frontcourt questionable going forward with Al Horford potentially retiring and Luke Kornet being an unrestricted free agent, not to mention Kristaps Porzingis' constant injury question mark, Boston could use their 28th pick on a center.
Currently, Florida big man Alex Condon is seen as a fringe first-round pick, despite him having some terrific attributes that could make him an NBA player. Despite being listed at 6'11, he is one of the fastest big men in college basketball, with him effortlessly sprinting up the court and beating his defender to the other end of the floor. That has led to him getting easy buckets in transitions, including alley-oops.
Thus far, in a sophomore season, he's averaging a more than respectable 11.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks and 25 minutes a game. He is also shooting 34% from 3 on 1.6 attempts per game, suggesting that he can knock down threes at the NBA level. That would be a big development for Condon, with him likely being more of a power forward than a center at the next level.
Him shooting just 63.9% from the free throw line over his two seasons at Florida makes that far from a certainty, but if he can play the four, then he'd give the Celtics a versatile big man who can both rebound, block shots, get out and transition, and also knock down open threes.
That sounds like a nice move for a Celtics team that could use more size with one of their big men possibly retiring, the other one possibly leaving for free agency, and a third unlikely to play large chunks of seasons. Therefore, Condon would be a good choice.
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