Mocks Flip: Some now think Nuggets want a point guard

The board is shaking out, and the Denver Nuggets’ projected pick at No. 26 looks a lot different than it did a month ago.

When the lottery dust settled in May, the national mocks had Denver chasing a wing to possibly replace Peyton Watson or a big to bolster the frontcourt with the expected departure of Jonas Valanciunas. Now, about two weeks from draft night on June 23, many are swinging in a new direction for the pickaxes: point guard.

Denver’s lack of a true second ballhandler next to or behind Jamal Murray was laid bare again in a first-round playoff exit. The front office flagged it at its postseason news conference. The mock drafters heard it. There’s also the case of second-stringer Jalen Pickett having a team option and third-stringer Tyus Jones being a free agent.

As the combine fades in the rearview, the May 27 withdrawal deadline is thinning a class already gutted by NIL money keeping college players in school. Executives reportedly have first-round grades on just 20 to 25 players, which means the back half of the first round — where Denver sits — is a guessing game. That’s not making a ton of headlines right now given the top four, and to a larger extent the top dozen, are expected to be very good pros.

This is co-GMs Jonathan Wallace and Ben Tenzer’s first draft. Denver has more than $203 million in guaranteed money on the books for just eight players next season. Ownership might want to duck the luxury tax, despite Josh Kroenke saying earlier this offseason they would pay. Watson’s restricted free agency could force the salary dump of a starter. Aaron Gordon’s name is floating in trade talks. Valanciunas has a partially guaranteed deal and could be waived in July.

In other words: this is a big draft for the Nuggets, if they pick, trade out of the selection or move up or down. If they do pick a rookie, here’s what the latest mocks say.

The Athletic and CBS Sports: Ebuka Okorie, PG, Stanford (freshman) — The new favorite. Two outlets landed on the 6-1 Okorie, who put up 23.2 points per game as a freshman and ranks 24th on CBS’s board. The Athletic’s read is that Denver “needs a second ballhandler behind Jamal Murray,” especially with Jones likely gone, and that Okorie’s ability to pressure the rim “could blend nicely with Denver’s five-out structure.” The knock is size, but the speed and improving shooting (35.4% from deep) fit the bill.

USA Today: Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech (sophomore) — Same position which is intresting. Anderson is a 6-1 guard and the All-Big 12 Most Improved Player who more than doubled his assists per 100 possessions after sliding to the point. USA Today’s pitch is dead-on Denver: a strong assist-to-usage ratio for a team that “relies on high-efficiency passing and off-ball movement.” Few better offensive creators in the class, even if he’s undersized. Monte Morris vibes anyone? Jones flashed it in limited playoff minutes, recreating the role Morris once owned.

ESPN: Dailyn Swain, SG/SF, Texas (junior) — Jonathan Givony still has the switchable wing here, though the combine was a mixed bag. Swain measured 6-6½ with a 6-10 wingspan, drew praise for showing up — then struggled in the first day of scrimmages and sat out the second. Scouts are split between his physical tools and his shooting. ESPN notes the thin crop of athletic wings late in the first could buoy him.

NBC Sports: Tarris Reed Jr., C, UConn — Also a holdover, and trending up. Reed helped UConn reach the national title game — a loss to Michigan — and few players did more for their stock in the tournament. A rugged, glass-crashing post who gives Denver depth behind Nikola Jokic, even with Valanciunas under contract one more year.

The Ringer: Morez Johnson, PF, Michigan (sophomore) — The most interesting swing. This outlet leans into the Gordon angle directly, framing Johnson as injury insurance — or a “serviceable imitation” if Denver moves on from Mr. Nugget entirely. The 6-9, 251-pound bruiser can switch one through five, and The Ringer argues he brings the defensive versatility that neither DaRon Holmes II nor Zeke Nnaji offers. The catch is the shooting: 24 3-pointers all regular season, albeit at 41.7%.

And the Zuby Ejiofor workout I wrote about still looms in the background — the St. John’s star and BIG EAST Player of the Year remains a logical frontcourt fit if Denver goes that route.

So which is it? A point guard to steady the second unit, a wing to fill Watson’s shoes, or a big to do the dirty work? The split tells you the front office has options — and that nobody outside the building knows the plan yet. What’s clear is the years long need for ball handling has finally pierced the national conversation.

The NBA Draft is June 23-24 in Brooklyn.