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NBA Mock Draft #13 -- Skal Labissiere, Power Forward, Kentucky
The Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns have agreed to a trade.
The Denver Nuggets send the #19 pick, Joffrey Lauvergne and the rights to Nikola Radicevic. The Phoenix Suns send the #13 pick.
SB Nation's Denver Nuggets blog, Denver Stiffs, explain the trade and pick:
After shoring up some shooting woes with Buddy Hield, the Nuggets next biggest need is defense. Much the early trade to get Buddy Hield, once Deyonta Davis came off the board it was time for the Nuggets to be aggressive to get their rim protector. Skal Labissiere had a poor showing in college but his physical tools are undeniable. He projects to be a force on the defensive end with his ability to protect the rim and hedge on the pick and roll. His game still needs a lot of work on both ends but with Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic, Denver can afford to bring Skal along slowly.
Losing Joffrey Lauvergne is easy to swallow because Skal's ceiling is ten times higher and he's also five years younger than Lauvergne, who despite only playing a year and a half in the NBA has pretty much topped out as far as development.. He already provides that same pick and pop action that Lauvergne does but has the tools to be immensely better on defense. Meanwhile Nikola Radicevic is coming off a lost season due to a torn labrum making the chances of him getting to the NBA questionable so there was little risk for Denver in this move
Ridiculous Upside analysis: As Denver Stiffs mentioned, there isn't much risk for the Nuggets to make this trade. While Skal Labissiere is incredibly raw, he has a great frame (6'11 with a 7'2 wingspan) and has shown an ability to go out to the perimeter and hedge pick and rolls. That potential is showcased by him averaging 4.2 blocks per 40 minutes, which is the highest mark among the 2016 draft class.
1) Philadelphia 76ers: BEN SIMMONS
2) Los Angeles Lakers: BRANDON INGRAM
3) Phoenix Suns (From Boston): DRAGAN BENDER
4) Utah Jazz (From Phoenix): JAMAL MURRAY
5) Denver Nuggets (from Minnesota) : BUDDY HIELD
6) New Orleans Pelicans: KRIS DUNN
7) Minnesota Timberwolves (from Denver): DENZEL VALENTINE
8) Sacramento Kings: JAYLEN BROWN
9) Toronto Raptors: MARQUESE CHRISS
10) Milwaukee Bucks: DEYONTA DAVIS
11) Sacramento Kings (From Orlando): TIMOTHE LUWAWU
12) Utah Jazz: JAKOB POELTL
13) Denver Nuggets (from Phoenix): SKAL LABISSIERE
14) Chicago Bulls:
15) Denver Nuggets:
16) Boston Celtics:
17) Memphis Grizzlies:
18) Detroit Pistons:
19) Phoenix Suns (from Denver):
20) Indiana Pacers:
21) Atlanta Hawks:
22) Charlotte Hornets:
23) Utah Jazz (from Boston):
24) Philadelphia 76ers:
25) Los Angeles Clippers:
26) Philadelphia 76ers:
27) Toronto Raptors:
28) Utah Jazz (from Phoenix) :
29) San Antonio Spurs:
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