There's a new 2026 NBA Mock Draft that was just released by Christopher Kline at FanSided on the heels of the March Madness tournament finale, and Kline's got the Nuggets thinking of a new backup point guard. That's probably got bad news written all over it for Jalen Pickett, the often-overlooked guard near the end of the bench.
Kline has the Nuggets in the 25th spot in the first round based on the current standings. And at the 25th pick, Kline has the Nuggets selecting guard Christian Anderson Jr., out of Texas Tech.
Anderson's only 20, and he has a profile that fits what the Nuggets already do. He runs the pick-and-roll, and he led the Big 12 in assists at 7.4 per game while scoring 18.5 points and leading the Big 12 in minutes played. He has untapped upside, and Kline describes him as a "dynamic shooter."
Pickett doesn't present any upside at this point
That could spell doom for Pickett. Pickett is on a team option for next season, and he never really plays unless it's garbage time or everyone else is injured. He'll be 27 next year, and we've probably seen what he has in terms of upside. If the Nuggets did keep Pickett, because he's got a low salary for the cash-strapped Nuggets, he's likely to be behind Anderson.
Pickett is averaging just 4.9 points in 47 games played across 15.8 minutes. He saw most of his action when the Nuggets were depleted by injury in the middle of the season. Picket has provided 2.2 assists to 0.6 turnovers. Serviceable depth, but probably not much more now.
The Nuggets have needed a backup point guard
Anderson would get a chance to develop with the Nuggets. They need a backup point guard for Jamal Murray, and they have for years. Peyton Watson, Nikola Jokic, and Murray all spend time bringing the ball up for the Nuggets. Even Bruce Brown or Aaron Gordon does at times.
It would be a welcome addition for the Nuggets to have a primary backup for Murray. This is one of Murray's healthiest seasons. He's on pace for 77 games, and he's already played the most he's suited up for since 2018-19.
The irony is that the year Murray is healthiest, the Nuggets lose everyone else in the starting lineup for a significant time instead.
It'll be interesting to see if this is the direction the Nuggets go in or not, but it's never too early to start the speculation process. Thanks to Kline for getting the ball rolling.