The 2026 NBA Draft is deep with talent, and the Nuggets should have a few good options still available at pick 26 in the first round. Whichever route they go, whether it be someone to fill the paint or perimeter, they should be able to help the Nuggets tackle two problems at once. Problems like ball control, perimeter defense, athleticism, and rim protection. Fortunately, the draft is deep enough to find someone who can check off two of the boxes with one pick.
Taking a look at FanSided's NBA Draft Big Board, the Nuggets should have a few good options to select from when their time on the clock starts ticking. But who should the Nuggets zero in on most? It should be either by Zuby Ejiofor, Dailyn Swain, or Morez Johnson Jr.
Morez Johnson Jr., 6-9, PF, Michigan
Johnson may have been the best defender on the National Championship-winning Michigan Wolverines. He started all 40 games during his sophomore season, averaging 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds, chipping in 1.1 blocks as a pillar in the paint for the Wolverines. Johnson is a rim protector, and he's athletic, checking off both boxes for the Nuggets. Johnson isn't as explosive as Aaron Gordon, but he's built similarly and offers a similar paint presence.
Johnson would be higher on the list, but according to many mock drafts, it doesn't look like Johnson will slip to the Nuggets. He posted an elite 62.3% field-goal percentage and shot 78.2% from the free-throw line, and has been moving up draft boards after his combine and pre-draft workouts. He's an instant selection if he slips to 26.
Dailyn Swain, 6-7, SF, Texas
Dailyn Swain would make a great fit at the wing for the Nuggets. He's one of the best downhill wings in the country, with an ability to get to the rim and draw fouls at an elite level. And he knocked down the free throws at an 81.5% rate. The Nuggets didn't have anyone who could create points off the dribble well during their first-round playoff exit, which isn't a problem for Swain.
Swain is athletic, plays solid defense, and handles the ball well for a wing. The knock on Swain is his three-point shooting, but it improved substantially between his sophomore and junior years, rising from 25.0% to 34.4%. That could keep improving if he got open shots playing alongside Nikola Jokic.
Swain makes a great fit as an insurance policy for the likely departure of a Nuggets wing in the aftermath of trying to re-sign Peyton Watson.
Zuby Ejiofor, 6-8, PF, St. John's
The best fit and probably the best chance to land with the Nuggets is Ejiofor. The Big East Player of the Year, Ejiofor, is a rim protector and another force in the paint, with a build similar to Gordon's. Ejiofor blocked 2.1 shots in his senior year at St. John's, and the athletic, undersized big man could slot in better than Spencer Jones did on the small-ball unit as the Jokic replacement.
Ejiofor is athletic, blocks shots, and offers elite hustle. He grabbed 3.3 offensive rebounds per game last year, and 4.4 the year prior.
One thing all these players have in common is that they check off at least two boxes for the Nuggets' needs going into next season. Any of them could help, as long as the Nuggets choose to play them.
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