Sunday, June 14, 2015

2015 Draft Preview: Denver Nuggets

2015-16 Depth Chart
PG: Ty Lawson/Erick Green
SG: Randy Foye/Gary Harris/Jamaal Franklin
SF: Danilo Gallinari/Wilson Chandler
PF: Kenneth Faried/J.J. Hickson/Joffery Lauvergne
C: Jusef Nurkic/Nikola Jokic

2015 Free Agents
G/F Will Barton (RFA)
G Ian Clark (RFA)
PF Darrell Arthur
PG Jameer Nelson (player option)

2015 Draft Picks
1-7
2-27(57) via Portland

Team Needs 
No team's needs are subject to change as much as the Nuggets prior to the draft, as they could hire a coach that could dramatically shift the direction of their system (Mike d'Antoni for instance) and trade pretty much anyone on the roster, including Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried. As things stand now, Denver has a talented roster that injuries, chemistry, and a poorly matched coach ranked. Lawson, Gallnari (when healthy), and Nurkic are all starting quality players, while power forward and shooting guard are areas that can be improved upon. Faried got a big contract that will likely keep him in the starting lineup, but his abilities don't merit it. Harris and Foye are solid players, but are better suited to coming off of the bench. 

Potential Fits
At shooting guard, there probably isn't a one available at pick 7 worth the pick, unless Denver want to play a natural small forward there or Duke's Justise Winslow or Croatian Mario Hezonja in unexpectedly available. Power forward has some more intruiging options, Kristaps Porzingis would be a great fit and Denver has enough options that he wouldn't need to be forced into action too early. Willie Cauley-Stein of Kentucky is an option, but unless Nurkic is traded, those two probably couldn't play together. One solution that would fit the available players would be playing Gallinari at power forward more and drafting a wing like Arizona's Stanley Johnson to play alongside of him. Johnson is strong and versatile enough to cross-match defensively with Gallinari depending on match-ups.

Mock Draft
7. Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Seville
57. Joseph Young, SG, Oregon

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