Fansided

NBA Draft Lottery riggings we want to see

By Brad Rowland

Mar 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) in the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers during the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) in the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers during the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 25, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) defends as guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) dribbles the ball against Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Hawks defeated the Nuggets 119-105. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) defends as guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) dribbles the ball against Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Hawks defeated the Nuggets 119-105. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Denver Nuggets (via New York Knicks)

In an underrated way, the Nuggets were a lot of fun in 2015-2016. That did not necessarily translate into a ton of victories (which goes without saying), but Denver has some fine young talent and they play an entertaining style of basketball under Mike Malone.

This is also an organization that has not employed anything approaching a superstar since Carmelo Anthony left for New York, and it would be nice to pair young assets like Emmanuel Mudiay and Nikola Jokic with a high-upside forward. On cue, there are two (!) high-upside forwards available should the Nuggets come away with a lottery victory and they are, of course, Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram.

For me, Ingram is actually the better fit in Denver, which is due to the fact that Mudiay needs the ball in his hands in a similar way to Simmons. That should not be a full-blown impediment to the Nuggets taking Simmons should he be valued as the better prospect in their mind, but Ingram’s shooting and overall athletic profile on the wing could be tantalizing for a team with theoretical book-ends at point guard and center for the future.

Casual fans probably did not watch a ton of Denver Nuggets basketball this season, and unless they have League Pass, that is a virtual certainty. However, this is a young, fun team that could really take things to another level with a blue chip player like Simmons or Ingram.

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