As the NBA draft approaches, more intel comes out telegraphing team’s intentions. For weeks now, the consensus among NBA draft experts has been that all indications point to the Nuggets honing in on Dayton big-man DaRon Holmes with their first-round pick (28th overall).
Multiple prominent mock drafts have pegged Holmes to Denver and despite some chatter that he may be off the board by the 28th pick, that groupthink seems to have largely remained. These rumors have only been amplified recently as Holmes received an invitation to the green room on draft night and canceled his workouts after receiving a promise.
DaRon Holmes to the Nuggets a done deal?
Speculation began immediately insinuating that the Nuggets had given Holmes an assurance that they would take him at 28th. This pick would make perfect sense for Denver as Holmes would fill an obvious need at backup center and could provide a real spark off the bench, especially when Nikola Jokic sits - something the team has severely lacked in recent years.
But as draft week has officially begun, things are starting to get a bit more interesting and confusing. ESPN’s chief NBA draft expert Jonathan Givony has steadily mocked Holmes to the Nuggets and in his most recent article reiterated what his sources have told him, that “Most NBA teams are operating under the assumption that Holmes has received a promise from the Nuggets”.
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— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 24, 2024
This is a sentiment that has been echoed around NBA circles, but there has been a bit of pushback from Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype and he went a step further in his most recent mock draft. Scotto had Holmes going to the Timberwolves with the 27th pick and explained that despite the Denver rumors, “multiple NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype believe Holmes will be drafted much higher. Furthermore, there’s no truth to a reported promise from the Nuggets for Holmes, league sources said.”
Story: Reporting on free agency for Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, extension talks for Bam Adebayo, Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes, trade talks for Zach LaVine, the Knicks, Grizzlies, Bucks, Celtics and more in the new 2024 NBA mock draft on @hoopshype. https://t.co/FWD9qIgW9F
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 24, 2024
This is a fascinating twist in the story as we basically have two of the most trusted sources on NBA draft rumors at odds with each other here. By now, Nuggets fans have likely formed an opinion one way or another about Holmes and whether the team will (or even can) draft him.
All options still in play for the Nuggets on draft night
Realistically, it is probably never a good idea to get too attached to any player as late in the draft as the 28th pick. Nobody truly knows how the draft will play out and what players may actually be available. Furthermore, why would the team bother making a promise to Holmes? They have many needs and if a player they love happens to slip through the cracks and remain on the board at #28 it would be painful to pass due to a pre-draft agreement with Holmes.
Either way, this whole situation is a good reminder that even the most plugged-in sources don’t know just how the draft will shake out. There are a lot of variables at play, and the amount of things that could happen between now and the 28th pick on Wednesday night is incalculable. Be ready for anything, Nuggets fans.