The Denver Nuggets will have their first pick in the first round in two years at No. 26 when the NBA Draft kicks off on June 23rd. They really need to make this pick count. The Nuggets could be thin on the bench thanks to their salary cap situation, and that means the rookie draft pick may get a chance to crack the rotation if head coach David Adelman breaks tradition and gives the rookie a chance.
But the latest mock drafts from ESPN's Jeremy Woo and SI's Derek Parker, have the Nuggets selecting Koa Peat, the 6-foot-7, 245-pound wing from Arizona, and that would come with a risk for the Nuggets.
However, the risk is at least something that the Nuggets can work on with the 19-year-old freshman former Wildcat. Peat can't shoot the rock well, but he's got the other tools the Nuggets were lacking last season, and he's absolutely worth a look if the Nuggets want to play the rookie with upside.
The Nuggets can't draft Peat and not play him
The Nuggets have to make the effort to expose Peat to the floor if they draft him. Develop his shot and sharpen the edges around the rest of his game. Peat shot 35% from three but on low volume, and just 62.3% from the free throw line. However, his ability to get to the rim and finish propelled him to an excellent 52.8% from the floor on his way to scoring 14.1 points and collecting 5.6 rebounds in his only season at Arizona.
Peat checks off the boxes for athleticism, strength, and his ability to be a downhill scorer, all things the Nuggets were looking to upgrade this offseason. Peat's also a good defender, and his size and strength are reminiscent of the football players in his family, like his father, who played in the NFL.
But the Nuggets need to take a chance on developing the youth this season to prepare for a deeper bench in the playoffs, and Peat would be best used getting reps with Nikola Jokic when he's on the second unit. Jokic could space the floor, drawing the center out from the lane, and Peat could attack for the back door cut, or even create off the dribble for his own drive and bucket.
It's a risky pick, but the upside is there
Peat has actually been slipping lately in mock drafts, with some having had him going in the lottery before the worries about his shot began to progress further. But the Nuggets are loaded with shooters. They can have Peat work on that game in practice and slowly unfurl it on the court as time progresses. The Nuggets need him to attack the hoop and create more space for Joker to find the open player for the open bucket.
Peat would be a risk, but a worthy one given how deep this draft is supposed to be. Unless someone like Morez Johnson Jr. slips to 26, the Nuggets would do well by taking the upside gamble on Peat, as long as they play him this year.
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