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2014 NBA Draft: Grading each team’s draft

By Brad Rowland

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; A general view as basketball fans walk past a sculpture before the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; A general view as basketball fans walk past a sculpture before the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Gary Harris (Michigan State) reacts after being selected as the number nineteen overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Gary Harris (Michigan State) reacts after being selected as the number nineteen overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets had a relatively uneven draft. First, I absolutely loved their decision to move down from number eleven to gain two of the top nineteen selections, but their first choice of Jusuf Nurkic at #16 overall is a curious one. Still, Nurkic’s profile as a banger inside surely excites Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw, and if he comes over immediately, he will have the opportunity to learn from the likes of JaVale McGee. That will be…. interesting.

Later in the draft, though, the Nuggets hit a grand slam with the selection of Gary Harris out of Michigan State. Harris had no business falling to Denver with the 19th pick, and while he duplicates the newly acquired Arron Afflalo a bit, the Nuggets can groom him behind a mirror image, and then allow Afflalo to walk away when the still developing Harris is ready to shine. Nikola Jokic rounded out the night for Denver as a draft-and-stash, but this night was about Gary Harris.

Grade: B-

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