NBA-champion Nuggets try to run it back in a Northwest Division that added a wealth of young talent

DENVER (AP) – The parade is just a memory for the NBA-champion Denver Nuggets and the party is beginning to simmer down.

Back to the business of finding a way to remain at the NBA’s mountaintop.

Keyonte George poses for a photo with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 16th overall by the Utah Jazz during the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

The Nuggets went in search of some cost-control players in the NBA draft to build around a core that includes Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon and Finals MVP Nikola Jokic. This approach may be a way to bring back sixth man Bruce Brown, who opted out and is set to be a free agent. Or another veteran eager to help defend the title.

It took Denver 47 NBA seasons to get to the top. Staying there won’t be easy, either, with the Northwest Division adding a wealth of young talent Thursday night. Portland paired Scoot Henderson (No. 3 pick) with Damian Lillard. Utah added Taylor Hendricks and Keyonte George to continue their youthful trend. Minnesota will run it back with Anthony Edwards & Co., and Oklahoma City added point guard Cason Wallace to go with standout Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Taylor Hendricks greets NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected ninth overall by the Utah Jazz During the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Denver picked up Gonzaga forward Julian Strawther at No. 29 and Penn State point guard Jalen Pickett at No. 32 as part of a deal with the Indiana Pacers. They also got Hunter Tyson out of Clemson with the 37th selection.

The Nuggets are hoping to strike gold again, like they did last summer when they took Christian Braun out of Kansas at No. 21. Braun turned in valuable minutes off the bench during the Nuggets´ run to their first championship.

Keyonte George poses for a photo with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 16th overall by the Utah Jazz during the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in New York.

Scoot Henderson,reacts after being selected third overall by the Portland Trail Blazers during the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

One thing’s for sure: The new Jazz picks certainly stood out.

Their suits, anyway.

Hendricks, the No. 9 pick out of Central Florida, wore pink and George, the Big 12 freshman of the year from Baylor, donned a snazzy print suit.

– Team needs: Not many. They’re the defending champions.

– Who did the team draft: Strawther, who is known for his big-shot ability (he drained a go-ahead 3-pointer with 7.2 seconds left to help Gonzaga beat UCLA in the Sweet 16). Pickett could help fill the void should Brown leave.

Scoot Henderson, right, reacts with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver watching after being selected third overall by the Portland Trail Blazers during the NBA basketball draft Thursday, June 22, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

– Whose game does the draft pick most compare to: Jordan Poole for Strawther. For Pickett, perhaps an Andre Miller.

– Team needs: Planning to run it back with the Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns tandem inside and ceding more responsibility to star swingman Anthony Edwards, Minnesota is set for starters. Backup center Naz Reid is an unrestricted free agent and he´d leave a big hole.

– Who did the team draft: After trading two future second-round picks to San Antonio to move into the 33rd spot, the Timberwolves will receive Leonard Miller, a 6-foot-10 forward from Canada who played with the G League Ignite last season. Miller averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds in 24 games. With their own pick at No. 53 overall, the Timberwolves went with UCLA guard Jaylen Clark. He had surgery in March to repair an Achilles injury.

Scoot Henderson arrives at Barclays Center before the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

– Whose game does the draft pick most compare to: Just 19, Miller needs development, but perhaps his game can evolve to resemble Jarred Vanderbilt. Depending on how he recovers from the Achilles surgery, perhaps Clark can develop into a Matisse Thybulle-type defender.

– Team needs: Interior strength, 3-point shooting.

– Who did the team draft: Wallace, Dallas´ pick at No. 10; Hunter Tyson at 37; Keyontae Johnson at 50.

– Whose game does the draft pick most compare to: Wallace: Jrue Holiday because of his floater and defense; Tyson: Danilo Gallinari because of his size and ability to stretch the floor; Johnson: A smaller Zion Williamson because of his versatility and strength.

Cason Wallace poses for a photo with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 10th overall by the Dallas Mavericks during the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

– Team needs: Help for Lillard after missing out on the playoffs for the second straight season.

– Who did the team draft: Henderson out of the G League Ignite with the third overall pick, forward Kris Miller out of Iowa with the No. 23 pick, and French guard Rayan Rupert with the No. 43 pick.

– Whose game does the draft pick most compare to: Henderson is a tenacious point guard that some compare to Russell Westbrook.

– Team needs: Shooters, switchable defenders and backcourt depth.

Cason Wallace arrives at Barclays Center before the NBA basketball draft Thursday, June 22, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

– Who did the team draft: Hendricks, George, No. 28 Brice Sensabaugh out of Ohio State.

– Whose game does the draft pick most compare to: Hendricks can shoot and defend like Bobby Portis; George is a creative shot-maker like Anfernee Simons or Bradley Beal; Sensabaugh is a pure shooter in the mold of T.J. Warren.

AP Sports Writers Cliff Brunt and Anne M. Peterson along with AP freelancers Brian Hall and Matthew Coles contributed to this report.

Taylor Hendricks greets NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected ninth overall by the Utah Jazz During the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in New York.

Cason Wallace arrives at Barclays Center before the NBA basketball draft Thursday, June 22, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Scoot Henderson,reacts after being selected third overall by the Portland Trail Blazers during the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in New York.

Scoot Henderson, right, reacts with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver watching after being selected third overall by the Portland Trail Blazers during the NBA basketball draft Thursday, June 22, 2023, in New York.

Cason Wallace poses for a photo with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 10th overall by the Dallas Mavericks during the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in New York.

Related Posts

SAD NEWS: YouTuber P2istheName found dead in mail room at 26, friends pay heartfelt tribute to ‘kind-hearted’ creator…see more

The star, who real name was Philip Enewally, was discovered on Friday, according the Los Angeles County Coroner. A cause of death has not yet been revealed, as investigations continue…

Read more

SAD NEWS: Video game YouTuber P2istheName, born Philip Enewally, has died at the age of 26. Before his death, he was said to have been using…see more

Popular YouTuber P2istheName, born Philip Enewally, died Friday. He was 26. The news was confirmed by the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office, which listed Enewally’s place of death as “the mail room,” presumably…

Read more

Jay-Z’s ‘illegitimate son’ slams rapper for denying ‘getting his mother pregnant at 16’ – and refusing to take paternity test😲

Jay-Z, 55, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has claimed he is the victim of an “extortion scheme” as he hits back at a civil lawsuit filed on Sunday, which…

Read more

Beyoncé shows off her ample cleavage in a low-cut grey coat as she poses for a sultry photo with husband Jay-Z

Beyoncé posed for eye-catching Instagram photos with husband Jay-Z on Sunday, going braless under a glittering grey suit and looking nothing special. As she posed for stunning pictures, the legendary…

Read more

Jay-Z Reveals He Only Learned to Swim After Blu Ivy Was Born So He Could Save Her in an Emergency: ‘I Can’t Even Imagine That’

According to Jay-Z, he started swimming to protect his first child, Blue Ivy, after she was born. The statement was made by the 51-year-old rap legend during the new season…

Read more

BREAKING NEWS: News spread that Won Bin owed Kim Sae Ron 12 billion, a debt that caused her to commit suicide because she couldn’t pay it. And he also promised to…see more

New information related to Won Bin – Kim Sae Ron makes Kim Soo Hyun called. Over the past 24 hours, the Asian public has been in an uproar over the…

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *