Thread: The Official Denver Nuggets Thread!

who cares if he can shoot. . . if he can guard at all, we have a desperate need for him. . . although, i have to say, taking a big with a bad back and a big with bad feet feels like a typical nugs kind of move. . . but with our need for a mobile rim protector, it's not a bad gamble in the 2nd round. . .

Originally Posted by King87

Shoulda traded up for Young.

no. . .

Having at least one defensive specialist who can slow some of the best players down on the perimeter is a must have in the playoffs - I like it.

Originally Posted by dogfish

it's tough when you always pick in the mid-20s or later. . . nonetheless, their front office is widely recognized as one of the best in the business. . .

we'll see. . . naturally, i hope porter works out, but i'm not optimistic. . . i'd guess there are likely very good reasons why every 12 other teams passed on him, and no one moved up for him. . . is our FO smarter than everyone else in the league, or were we just desperate? either way, i'm just not a fan of our roster construction. . . we now have approximately a dozen stretch-fours who can't guard anybody, and basically no wings who can defend at an NBA level, aside from whatever's left of chandler for one more year. . . we'll have to see what happens in free agency, but it's not likely we're gonna make much hay there, given our salary situation. . .

i'm at least happy that they didn't give away the pick for nothing in a salary dump. . . i'm not a fan of the move they did make, but i do understand the thought process behind it, and it's better than punting like they did last year. . . so there's that. . .

Porter is more of a SF, like Durant. A week ago, he was being talked about as a possible #2 pick in this draft. As far as teams passing on him, it happens all the time. Teams passed on Mitchell last season the same way. That's not a guarantee of failure. He's definitely a gamble, but one worth taking IMO. Buff's report was the only one that I have seen that brought up red flags with attitude. It wasn't mentioned by anyone else as far as I've seen. There might have been a few players there with all star potential, but he has superstar potential. Why not take the risk?

You're right. The Nuggets didn't punt like last year. Connelly has been good in the draft overall. Last year set this team back. This pick may make up the difference. I'd like to know just where he is in his recovery. I'd be shocked if he played in the summer league.

This will surprise some people. Nuggets take a big white guy in the draft.

Listening to Connelly now. He's saying that worse case scenario, the Nuggets give Porter a red shirt season. They also had him right at the top of their board before the injury. He also said that the Nuggets desire was to move up in this draft as far back as a week ago.

zig, here's a bit more on porter's personality and attitude. . .

There’s also been a ton of smoke put out about Porter’s personality on and off the court. For insight into team’s questions about Porter’s mentality on the court, the Athletic’s Sam Vecenie offered up this nugget.

...Porter’s combine was all about glitz vs. substance. He came with a single, simple message: He believes that he is the best player in this draft, a declaration that may actually end up being true given his prodigious skill level.

But those brash words will likely do little to quash the perception of entitlement that NBA executives feel he has developed. The intel they’re getting back is mixed from his time at Missouri, where questions have arisen about if he was a great teammate. When mixed with the early prep career questions about his toughness, it’s a complicated picture for NBA evaluators to wade through.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks also had this to say. It’s smokescreen season, so it’s fair to wonder who benefits from these “personality” insights, but there’s a LOT more smoke out there about Porter’s personality than the other prospects in the class.


Bernie Miklasz Show
@BernieShow
ESPN NBA Front Office Insider, @BobbyMarks42 says #Mizzou's Michael Porter Jr. did not interview well with teams in Chicago, and right now projects him to fall somewhere between 7-10 in the #NBADraft

https://www.sactownroyalty.com/2018/...hael-porter-jr

it also says in there that his back has bothered him since 2015. . .

There are also concerns about Porter’s grit and toughness. He has the reputation of having been insulated and having been a bit of a diva, what happens when he gets to an NBA team where he is not the first (and, at first at least, maybe not the second) option. What happens when he has to play more of a role and have it not be about him and his touches? Teams are asking about that.

https://nba.nbcsports.com/2018/06/18...gerated-a-lot/

Well let's hope that this fall in the draft humbles him. I wouldn't be shocked if he doesn't play this season. Sounds like the Nuggets aren't going to let him back on the floor until he's 100%.

Here's a little piece from ESPN on why you take a gamble like this at 14.

Denver Nuggets
Selected forward Michael Porter Jr. at No. 14.
Jonathan Givony: The No. 14 pick in the draft is one of the more underwhelming places to select a player, historically. Only a handful of prospects selected here have ended up averaging double-figure scoring for their careers, including the likes of TJ Warren, Marcus Morris and Troy Murphy over the past 30-plus years.
With that in mind, rolling the dice on the star power of Michael Porter Jr. -- formerly projected as the No. 1 pick in the draft last summer -- makes sense here. The Nuggets have a deep roster, affording them the possibility of bringing Porter along slowly and doing whatever it takes to get his body right so he can have a long and sustainable NBA career. They should be in no rush to get him on the floor.
If Porter pans out, the Nuggets will have a star on their hands. If not, this is well worth the risk at the end of the lottery. Just look at some of the recent No. 14 picks: Denzel Valentine, Cameron Payne, Shabazz Muhammad, Earl Clark, Anthony Randolph and Al Thornton.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2...-round-winners

NBA Draft 2018: Even if Michael Porter Jr. doesn't play this year, the Nuggets got a steal
The Missouri star has issues with his back, but Raja Bell called him the steal of the past 6 or 7 years

article and video - https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/n...s-got-a-steal/

Last season Kentucky was better without Vanderbilt. 19-4 without him. 7-7 with.

I am skeptical of the guy with the bad back.

Both picks were blue chip all stars out of high school. If not hurt Porter is easilybin the convo for number 1. And the Vanderbilt is a a freaking animal on the glass and defensively. Reminds me a little of Kmart athletically. Legitimately guards 4 positions and is a nasty help side defender. People are raving about this draft. If healthy the Porter Durant comparisons are valid only Porter is a little more athletic.

Zach Lowe says on today's pod that immediately after the Nuggets picked MPJ, they were on the phone for the 15-17 picks trying to trade back in with a future 1st to grab Zhaire Smith.

Did they get the guy with the floating hat?