NBA Mock Draft: Denver Nuggets Select OG Anunoby From Indiana

SB Nation's NBA Network conducted a mock draft with bloggers from each team site making their team's pick. To continue the 2017 NBA Mock Draft, Denver Stiffs takes OG Anunoby from Indiana

By Dakota Schmidt@Dakota_Schmidt Jun 15, 2017, 6:00pm EDT

NBA Mock Draft Pick #13: OG Anunoby, Shooting Guard, Indiana

SBNation’s Denver Nuggets blog Denver Stiffs explains their pick:

Two things are certainly no secret when it comes to the Denver Nuggets. First, they are abysmal on defense. In fact they were second only to the Lakers for the worst defensive rating in the league (Nuggets: 110.5; Lakers: 110.6) and bottom ten in both fast break points allowed and points in the paint allowed. Anunoby offers the Nuggets a lengthy, physical and versatile defender who they hope can progress into the first team all defense type of player they so desperately need. The second thing that's no secret regarding the Nuggets is they have more players than they know what to do with which is why Anunoby makes a lot of sense specifically for Denver. Coming off surgery to repair his ACL, the buzz is Anunoby won't be ready until mid to late November at the absolute earliest. History tells us that even when a player is ready to return to the court after an ACL injury it still takes several games, if not an entire season, before that player is really 100% back. With the Nuggets ample depth they can afford to take a gamble on upside with the comfort of knowing they have the luxury of bringing Anunoby back slowly. If it works out then it'll be just the latest draft heist by GM Tim Connelly and Anunoby will become a vital piece of a core with an very high ceiling.

Ridiculous Upside Analysis

The crew at Denver Stiffs pretty much took the words right out of my mouth. On a Nuggets team that’s repeatedly been below-average on defense, OG Anunoby seems like a god send. Standing at 6’8 with a 7’3 wingspan, Anunoby has shown an ability to defend multiple positions from point guard to power forward and everywhere in between. Although he probably won’t be ready for the start of the regular season, Anunoby stands as a player that can immediately fill a major need for Denver once he’s 100% healthy.