Denver Nuggets: Full 2019 Offseason Grades
Drafting Bol Bol
The Nuggets had no draft picks in the first or second round of this year’s draft. Bol was a projected first-round pick, and, with each pick being announced, he continued to slide down the board. The Nuggets took advantage, and they threw a draft at a possibly franchise-altering player. During his brief stint in college, Bol was one of the best players in the country. His combination of size and skill hadn’t been seen in the game since Anthony Davis‘ lone year at Kentucky.
Through nine games, Bol averaged 21 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game on 56.0 percent shooting from the floor and 52.0 percent from 3-point range. Those numbers are going to fall off. It’s just too unrealistic for him to maintain them. However, Bol has dominated at every level he’s ever played at, and he has the chance to do that again at this level.
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This was the perfect example of a low-risk – high-reward move by the Nuggets’ front office. If Bol never recovers from his foot injury or he just can’t hang in the NBA, all it cost them was a little bit of cash and a future second-round pick in 2022 to buy a second-round pick. If he does pan out though, they have a big that’s as talented as Jokic to give them a deadly frontcourt that no opposing team could handle. It was a win-win for both sides.