The Denver Nuggets had a vision. A projected plan during the 2023 NBA draft.
General manager Calvin Booth and the Nuggets front office targeted a certain player archetype in Booth’s second draft. Versatile. Experienced. Special. After all, Denver has attracted prospects with impressive offensive output. Men who can give space to the floor. All three of Denver’s picks — Julian Strawther, Jalen Pickett, and Hunter Tyson — shot at least 38 percent from the three-point line in their most recent collegiate careers.
This isn’t the first time Denver has been in the spotlight during the draft. In the year During Booth’s first NBA draft in 2022, the Nuggets targeted a different type of player. Denver’s two picks — Christian Brown and Peyton Watson — cut their teeth on the defensive end. And both choices look like great sweaters right now. Brown, taken 21st overall, played rotation minutes in the NBA Finals at age 21. Watson, 20, was picked 30th, a big bright spot for the Nuggets to close out the 2023 regular season.
Denver is heading into a championship season with a total of five starters — Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Kentavious Caldwell Pope and Aaron Gordon — under long-term contracts. However, the Nuggets are trying to land super-sixth-man Bruce Brown. Brown is a free agent this summer, and the Nuggets could offer him $7.8 million next season. A return is certainly a possibility, but Brown is set to have a hot market after his impressive season in Denver.
Because of the salary cap, it won’t be easy for Denver to replace its vast array of talent in a market with very little spending power. And that’s it. Without Referring to the looming 2024 CBA, it further limits the degree to which teams with high-salaried players (like Denver with Jokic, Murray and Porter Jr.) can acquire additional talent.
The best way to find the right backup pieces in these cap sizes, at least according to Booth, is to hit the homework and develop in-house talent in the NBA draft while those players are still on their rookie-scale deals, which cost much less. every year.
“I like to use the draft to find archetypes that are hard to come by in free agency or the trade market, and so I feel like all of these guys are special,” Booth said. “I think when we find these people that you can’t find and grow them, it helps to raise that window.”
Denver will be the defending champion in the 2023-24 regular season. According to Booth, the goal is to “maximize” the championship window with Jokic, Murray and the rest of the starters right in their prime. Head coach Michael Malone spoke highly of the Nuggets. They want to be a dynasty Not long after the franchise celebrated its first NBA title this month. Prospects who can contribute immediately during their rookie contracts are the most cost-effective way to maintain flexibility while they continue to compete.
So knowing the team needed immediate contributors, Booth looked for more experienced players in the 2023 draft. At age 21, Strawser was Booth’s youngest choice after three years in college. Pickett and Tyson are both 23 years old and have spent five seasons in school.
“Getting good basketball players and guys who can touch wins,” Booth said of his philosophy around that. “Usually, those guys have to stay a little longer in college. I think all of these guys, at some point in the game, if we have an injury or if they’re playing really well, the coach feels comfortable putting them in the game. So when we win the championship and now we have to do things like that I think it’s important to have those type of guys on the roster.
All three draftees bring enough college experience to learn the game. Also, their time in school allowed them to hone their skills and learn their strengths and weaknesses.
But there were other things Booth valued during this draft. He called all three players “high character” and will help Denver build a more balanced and versatile roster.
“I think they’re all guys with character. They’re all tough. They’re all smart. They’re all skilled. And I think they all bring something a little bit different to what we have right now. Going forward to have a balanced roster, a diverse roster, a consistent organization and team. It will be important.
Strawther was Booth’s first choice on draft night with the #29 pick in the first round. It’s a natural born bucket from Gonzaga University. Strawther has as good a case as anyone as the best shooter in the draft class. He shot 40 percent from long range during his junior season and is a full 6’7, making the three-pointer difficult to block. There’s a lot more to Strathmore’s game than pure shooting, of course you can read Our draft profile.
“Obviously, there are a lot of players that I enjoy watching and picking up bits and pieces of their games, but watching a tall shooter like Klay[Thompson]what makes him successful in the league, especially early in his career? The court was being contested and I was just on my defensive skills. “It’s just being able to focus and develop that,” Strawther said of his ability. “Long shooters around the league are having a lot of success right now.”
Jalen Pickett, taken 32nd overall out of Penn State, can be described as special. He is a 6’2 guard who works primarily from the back to the basket, making him a very rare post-up guard in today’s league. Pickett is an excellent decision maker and produces one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios in the nation. He is incredibly physical on defense, especially on the glass. Many experts, including Nugget Director of Scouting Jim Klibanoff, compared Pickett to former Nugget Andre Miller because of his caution and unique style of play. Read more About the picket game here.
“The drop back thing is the same between me and him,” Pickett said of the Miller comparison during Denver. Introductory media sessions.
“Jaylen is an all-around great basketball player and can make others better at the game,” Booth said.
Booth’s final draft pick of the night, Hunter Tyson, was taken 37th overall after five seasons at Clemson University. Tyson is a two-double machine that runs the floor with 40 percent accuracy. He’s a stretch-big who constantly impacts the game with hustle plays.
“Hunter has an incredible motor. He’s a great shooter. He’s incredibly versatile for the game and can play on the wing,” Booth said.
When listing what Tyson brings to the table, he brings his experience and ability to play multiple roles. He is used to doing anything to help the team win Read more about it here.
“I played five years of college basketball. I have a lot of experience playing high-level basketball. Obviously, the NBA is a step up. But I think that experience will help me early on. Also my five years at Clemson. I had to accept a lot of different roles while I was there. So that I think it will prepare me to accept a role here as well.
All three players will have a chance to contribute early next season when the Nuggets run him back. Booth had a specific goal in mind for all three drafts. His message: Play within yourself.
“I want them to go out there and compete, play hard and play the games that they’re known for and that they’re designed for,” Booth said. “They got along as a team and played well together.”
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