2021 NBA DRAFT

Owned Draft Picks: Own 2021 1st Round Pick (Pick #26)

Since 2014 when they drafted Nikola Jokic 41st overall, the Denver Nuggets have been one of the best teams in the league when it comes to draft night and finding talent up and down the draft board. They did so in 2016 when they drafted Jamal Murray 7th overall, they did so in 2017 when they drafted Donovan Mitchell 13th overall, only to trade him to the Jazz proving to be a major mistake, and then drafting Michael Porter Jr. 14th overall in 2018. 

Last year, the Nuggets drafted Zeke Nnaji 22nd overall and while the rookie did not hold that big of a role in Denver’s rotation, he is expected to be a key frontcourt piece for them moving forward into future years. 

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This offseason, the Nuggets have their own first-round draft pick, which is slated to be the 26th overall pick in this year’s draft. Most of the time, teams with a late first-round pick in the position like the Nuggets look to trade back and acquire future assets, but Denver has some of the best scouts when it comes to draft time and they will likely keep this pick to bring in yet another young, versatile player. 

With Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. all under contract for next season, it is expected that Denver will likely target a point guard/shooting guard in the draft, which is why prospects like G Sharife Cooper (Auburn), G Ayo Dosunmu (Illinois), G Terrence Shannon Jr. (Texas Tech), G Joel Ayayi (Gonzaga) and G Josh Christopher (Arizona State) will be on their radar late in the first-round. 

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At full strength, Denver is one of the best teams in the league and they have the talent on their roster to back that up, but things just have not gone their way over the years in the postseason. Last season against the Lakers, the Nuggets ran out of gas against the eventual champions and this year against the Suns, they were missing Jamal Murray, which had a major impact on this series. 

Heading into next season, with a full offseason to develop some of their young guys like last year’s first-round pick, Zeke Nnaji, Monte Morris, P.J. Dozir, Bol Bol and others further, the Nuggets are going to end up being one of the deepest teams in the league with a ton of athletic players. 

Draft-wise, the Nuggets will be looking to add onto their core of young talent with the 26th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. It would not come as a shock either to see them go after a guy with a lot of potential that may not be ready to play right away. Denver always does a great job in player development, so looking for the next “Nikola Jokic” could be the route they take in the draft.