The NBA Draft is rapidly approaching, and as the days draw near, Jayden Quaintance's stock keeps falling. Quaintance was projected as a late-lottery talent a few weeks ago, and he's number 13 on FanSided's NBA Draft Big Board. But concerns over his recovery from an ACL injury and recurring swelling in his surgically repaired right knee have pushed Quaintance all the way out of the NBA Draft green room. Down into the range for the Denver Nuggets to take a shot at a young player with massive defensive upside at pick number 26 of the first round.
Quaintance was just placed into the Nuggets slot at 26 by Sam Vecenie's mock draft at The Athletic, and he hit the nail on the head here for who the Nuggets should select if Quaintance falls this far. And it's possible, given the risk, he could.
Quaintance would instantly transform the Nuggets' second-unit defense
Quaintance only played four games last year for the Kentucky Wildcats, but in the 24 games he played for the Arizona State Sun Devils in 2024-25 before tearing his right ACL and meniscus, he was a defensive mastermind. Quaintance blocked 2.6 shots and added 1.1 steals to go along with 9.4 points and 7.9 rebounds. Quite an impressive campaign for the 17-year-old freshman.
The rim protection is real, thanks in part to the 6-foot-9 big man's long wingspan at 7-feet, 5.25 inches. FanSided's Christopher Kline said, "his instincts as a shot-blocker are off the charts." The athleticism and upside on the defensive end of the floor are real. The Nuggets would check off three offseason need boxes with Quaintance. Youth, athleticism, and rim protection.
Quaintance would instantly be the defensive stopper in the paint that the Nuggets need in the non-Nikola Jokic minutes. Jonas Valanciunas came on at the top of the second and fourth quarters, and the lead would fall away consistently. He provided little in the way of defense.
Quaintance comes with risks, but the defense is real
The defensive abilities of Quaintaince are real, and the Nuggets would be right to select him as long as he's able to make it on the floor healthy next year. However, he does come with some offensive concerns on top of the injury concerns.
Quaintance can get to the hoop thanks to his athleticism, but if he gets fouled, he might be a hack-a-Shaq situation waiting to happen. Quaintance shot just 47.9% from the line at ASU, and just 30.8% in the four games with Kentucky. Dreadful. But he can finish around the rim, and shot 52.5% at ASU and 57.1% at Kentucky.
If players like Dailyn Swain, Bennett Stirtz, or Morez Johnson Jr. are off the board and Quaintance is still available, the Nuggets should take a shot at one of the best rim protectors of the draft.
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