Denver Nuggets: Draft pick situation

This isn’t a draft analysis, I leave that up to my good friend Evan Wheeler and his extensive knowledge of College Basketball. This is about the current situation of the Denver Nuggets draft picks around the league, so how our pick is tracking and if the picks we have acquired through trades will convey this year.

Firstly, Denver has an absolute plethora of picks that could convey this year, there are four first rounders including our own and we are entitled to swap our pick with New York for a more favourable one. We also have two second round picks that we acquired recently, that could possibly convey this year. Let’s start with taking a look at the potential first round picks for Denver.

First round picks

At this point Denver’s own pick is currently in the lottery, and with the final piece of the Carmelo Anthony trade being the rights to swap their pick with New York’s, it greatly increases the chance of this pick being closer to number one. However, currently the Nuggets chances of the number one pick are at three percent so it is very likely the pick falls between 5-8.

Rocket’s Pick

Acquired in the Ty Lawson trade, this pick is lottery protected so it conveys if the Rockets make the playoffs. The Rockets are one slot away from dropping out of playoffs and not conveying this pick to the Nuggets. At 37 – 37 the Bulls are 1 loss better than the 37-38 Rockets and need to lose a couple more games for the Nuggets to acquire this pick. But at this stage if it does convey it looks like it will turn out to be pick 15-18. If the Rockets collect pick 14 this pick becomes a 2nd round pick next year for the Nuggets.

Memphis’ pick

This pick is not going to convey this year, protected from 1-5 and 15-30, the Grizzlies are too entrenched in the playoffs to fall out at this late stage. This pick becomes easier to convey each year if it doesn’t meet the criteria for the year.

Portland’s pick

Looking very good to get this pick. Protected from 1-14 the Blazers have to make playoffs for the Nuggets to acquire this pick, and they’re making good on their end of the bargain. Sitting in 6th at 39-36 they’re 4 games ahead of the Rockets and the 36-38 Mavericks, Portland look likely to finish 6 and give the Nuggets a pick between 16-18.