The Nuggets traded out of the 1st Round of the upcoming NBA draft when they acquired Johan Petro during the season for Chucky Atkins and their pick.
Currently as it has been discussed on this blog … the Nuggets own a second-round pick, 34th overall, which it appears they are still undecided about using.
"It's always in the air, what you're going to do," (Mark) Warkentien said Friday. "Would you call? Well, it depends on who's betting. It depends on what hand shows up as we go through the draft process. And you're weighing the value of the different assets. If somebody comes in and says, 'We'll give you this for it,' if you like that asset better, then you move. Or you may take this asset and try to move up. It's a very fluid deal."
But if the Nuggets do decide to use the pick, it's sounding more and more like they will select a guard or a swingman and not a power forward like ESPN's Chad Ford suggested in his latest mock draft.
… the organization hosted a group of 12 players, mostly guards, in the first of at least two rounds of workouts that could yield a player worthy of a selection. –Denver Post
But who are these 12 players? Well, the Denver Post only named one guy of the bunch … UCONN senior point guard A.J. Price (6'2'' 181 lbs.)
Price's stats: 31 minutes per game, 14.7 points on 40.8% shooting, 72% from the charity stripe, 40.2% from 3-point land, and 4.7 assists per game.
Price’s comments to the Denver Post about possibly playing for the Nuggets and learning from Chauncey Billups:
"For me, just come out, make shots, show that I can run the club and just take control," said Connecticut guard A.J. Price, who worked out Friday morning. "I would love to have the opportunity to come here and learn from one of the best point guards in the game in Chauncey Billups, and with a good team on top of that."
But as to who else the Nuggets brought in … check out Andrew's Draft Previews from Denver Stiffs. Some great work and a look at the Nuggets drafting history.
Denver Stiffs:
A quick snippet:
For last year’s NBA Draft Preview in which the Nuggets were set to draft 20th overall (their first first round pick since 2005), I set forth a detailed set of rules for drafting late in the first round for the Nuggets to adhere to. All that work and research went to waste when the Nuggets jettisoned their first round pick to the Bobcats for a future first rounder.
A quick snippet:
According to HoopsWorld.com and NBA.com, the Nuggets – along with a host of other NBA teams – worked out 21 college and foreign players from June 1-3 in Oakland. Among those who worked out for the Nuggets, the following players of note could be available when the Nuggets draft 34th on Thursday night (note that when I say "could be available," I'm basing this off of the mock drafts according to ESPN.com, DraftExpress.com, NBADraft.net and HoopsWorld.com)…
Nick Calathes – Guard, Florida
Omri Casspi – Forward, Maccabi Tel Aviv
Dionte Christmas – Shooting Guard, Temple
Darren Collison – Point Guard, UCLA
Wayne Ellington – Shooting Guard, UNC
Taj Gibson – Forward, Arizona
Eric Maynor – Point Guard, VCU
Patrick Mills – Point Guard, St. Mary's
A.J. Price – Point Guard, UConn
DaJuan Summers – Forward, Georgetown
Marcus Thornton – Shooting Guard, LSU
I would like to see the Nuggets use their pick, as they haven't really been stock piling youthful talent on the bench through the draft in recent years. Also as it has been discussed on this blog … the Nuggets need to find a young point guard to groom either as the backup or the heir apparent to Chauncey Billups.
With the NBA draft just two days away, the Nuggets plans will soon be unfolded.
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