The Denver Nuggets have the opportunity to improve upon their championship core in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Currently, Denver holds possession of the 40th-overall selection in the second round of the 2023 Draft. However, there has been speculation that the Nuggets might move into the late first round or acquire multiple second-round picks. Calvin Booth is a general manager that isn’t afraid to take risks or consolidate assets in a move that may improve the team dramatically and accentuate the championship window, so expect the Nuggets to be busy.
Denver is also preparing for the possibility of an exit from sixth-man Bruce Brown, who recently declined his $6.8 million player option. However, Denver can re-sign Brown for $7.8 million this summer on a one-year deal, and then ink him to a multi-year deal at market value in the 2024 offseason.
Still, in the event that Brown does test free agency and sign with a different ballclub, Denver will be forced to replace his expansive skill set. The best way to do so could be through the 2023 draft.
With this in mind, Denver may look for…
- Additional ball-handling: Brown functioned as Denver’s primary ball-handler off the bench and averaged 2.5 pick-and-roll ball-handling possessions in both the regular season and postseason. Denver could seek a player that replaces his point guard skill set.
- Perimeter Defense: Brown was one of Denver’s best perimeter defenders in the championship season. He’s hellacious about getting around screens, pesky about getting into passing lanes, and averaged 1.1 steals per game, third-best on the team. A wing defender that, like Brown, can guard 1-through-4 could be on Denver’s radar. Bonus points if that prospect can make shots from deep and function as a true blue 3-and-D player.
- Extra Intangibles: What made Brown so special for the Nuggets was the other things he did, as well. Brown earned his stripes in the NBA thanks to his movement away from the ball, and spontaneous cutters typically thrive next to a playmaker as creative as Nikola Jokić. He was also a force for Denver in transition and led the Nuggets in fastbreak scoring in the postseason. Most importantly, Brown’s a grinder; he’s unafraid to dive to the floor for loose balls and create extra possessions. Those types of players are always appreciated by head coach Michael Malone and fit Denver’s blue-collar culture immensely.
In short, there’s a lot to be excited about as the Nuggets look to improve their roster and defend their first-ever NBA championship!
