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Nuggets facing two former draft picks in first round

By Evan Siegel

SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Donovan Mitchell #45 and Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz react after a play against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on November 01, 2019 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Donovan Mitchell #45 and Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz react after a play against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on November 01, 2019 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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The Denver Nuggets, in different drafts, selected the All-Coronavirus team, when they drafted Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell before trading them to the Jazz.

The Denver Nuggets have had as much success in the draft as any team in the NBA over the last five to seven years. Gary Harris, Will Barton, Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr., and Monte Morris have all become key cogs in a deep roster and thoroughly effective system as run by Michael Malone and his staff.

Now heading into their first round showdown with the Utah Jazz in the playoffs, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell are both staring back at them fresh off of their run-ins with the coronavirus. Gobert was the first of many notable players, including Kevin Durant, Jokic, Christian Wood, Marcus Smart, Eric Bledsoe, Russell Westbrook, and others to contract the virus.

He then infamously infected his teammate Mitchell after being entirely too cavalier during a press conference in which he intentionally contacted the microphones belonging to the media. But for the Nuggets, their duel with the Jazz could leave them feeling good about themselves or with a high amount of buyer’s remorse given their willingness to ship off two future stars on draft night.

Gobert was drafted by the Nuggets with the 27th pick in the 2013 draft before he was traded for the draft rights to Erick Green and cash considerations. No one, not even Erick Green, has heard of Erick Green.

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Now Gobert, the multi-Defensive Player of the Year award winner, is going up against Jokic in what will be one nasty battle for supremacy in the paint. Meanwhile, Mitchell was drafted by the Nuggets with the 13th overall pick in the 2017 draft and then was shipped to Utah for the 24th pick which became Tyler Lydon. No one, not even Erick Green, has heard of Tyler Lydon. They also received Trey Lyles in the deal, who is now with the Spurs.

Obviously, neither of those deals worked out for the Nuggets, but this is their time to prove management correct. Game one is Monday afternoon.

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