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The Athletic mocks Isaiah Stewart to Denver Nuggets in 2020 NBA Draft

By Quenton S. Albertie

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - FEBRUARY 20: Isaiah Stewart #33 of the Washington Huskies reacts in the first half against the Stanford Cardinal during their game at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on February 20, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - FEBRUARY 20: Isaiah Stewart #33 of the Washington Huskies reacts in the first half against the Stanford Cardinal during their game at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on February 20, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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The Athletic’s 2020 NBA Mock Draft 6.0 has the Denver Nuggets selecting Isaiah Stewart with the 21st overall pick.

Sam Vecenie, a NBA draft analyst for The Athletic, has the Denver Nuggets taking an interesting prospect in the 2020 NBA Draft. In The Athletic’s 2020 NBA Mock Draft 6.0, the Nuggets select Isaiah Stewart with the 21st overall pick.

Stewart is a 6’9″ freshman center who played his lone collegiate season at the University of Washington, averaging 17.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 57.0% from the field and 25.0% from 3-point range.

Looking at Stewart’s skillset, he would provide a change-of-pace at the center position. His a high-motor player on both ends of the floor, plays with plenty of physicality in the post and has demonstrated excellent finishing ability with his diverse set of post moves. In addition, although his height isn’t ideal for the pivot position, he has a 7’4″ wingspan that helps aid him as a rebounder and shot-blocker.

One aspect of his game that’s especially intriguing is his ability to create contact inside, which allowed him to get to the free-throw line 6.2 times per game (where he shot 77.4%).

The Nuggets, who only average 20.5 free-throws per game this season (ranked 27th in the NBA), could certainly use him.

His ability to play man-to-man defense is a question as Washington plays a 2-3 zone but with the sudden prominence of zone defenses on the NBA level, this could also be perceived as a plus if Denver determines that they want to start employing this defensive scheme regularly. The only real negatives of Stewart’s game are that he’s not the most lithe defender away from the rim and the question of his ability to nail jump shots.

However, according to Vecenie, scouts are “big believers to shoot the basketball. Folks who went up to Washington’s practices this season said that he was knocking shots down from distance with ease.”

Stewart would fit well in Denver, particularly if they don’t re-sign Mason Plumlee.

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However, the presence of rookie center Bol Bol might make it redundant to draft another young center, considering Bol’s talent level.