Denver Nuggets: Early look at the 2021 NBA Draft

Denver Nuggets early NBA Draft look ahead: NBA-ready prospects

Ayo Dosunmu

Ayo Dosumnu is the most ready to make an impact starting next season. Th Illinois guard has been filling up the bucket during his three year tenure at the colligate level, averaging over 16 points per game in that span.

This past year was his coming out party, as he scored 20.1 points a night, while also averaging 5.3 assists, and 6.3 rebounds. At 6-foot-5, his size would be welcome on a Denver team that doesn’t boast much size in their backcourt.

The Junior also has an endless motor that helps him on defence. He isn’t elite on this end by any stretch, but he communicates well and can pull his weight in a defensive system.

He shot the ball very well last season, knocking down 49 percent from the field and 39 percent from deep. However, questions have been raised about his ball-security, as he averaged over three turnovers this past season.

At 21 years old, he’s not the youngest point guard that’ll be there, but it’s hard to see a lot of other guys have Dosunmu’s potential, especially going into next season.

Chris Duarte

The Dominican-born Chris Duarte really made a name for himself during March Madness a few months back. Duarte led his Oregon Ducks to a huge upset, when they beat the nation’s leading scorer Luka Garza and Iowa. Duarte had a team-high 23 points in the win and showed himself to be the real leader of his Oregon side. He Won the Jerry West award for the best shooting guard in college basketball and he was also selected as a First-Team All-Pac 12 player and First-Team Pac 12 All-Defense team in 2020-21.

Duarte averaged over 17 points per game last season. Despite averaging only two assists per game, Duarte’s a gifted ball handler at 6-foot-6.

His ceiling is limited by none-other than his age. Duarte is 24, so it’s possible that what he brings to the table in his first year might be similar to what his output is when he’s in his absolute prime. Despite this, what he would bring so late in the first round would be undoubtedly hard to turn down if you’re the Denver Nuggets.