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NBA Draft 2016: Every team’s most underrated pick ever

By Brad Rowland

Feb 27, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 10, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Utah Jazz forward Trevor Booker (33) guards Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Jazz defeated the Nuggets 100-84. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Utah Jazz forward Trevor Booker (33) guards Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Jazz defeated the Nuggets 100-84. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic, No. 41 pick, 2014 NBA Draft

This is probably too early, and I will grant that with openness. Jokic has played exactly one NBA season, and while he was fantastic in his rookie campaign, it is at least borderline absurd to include him on this list. However, Denver does not have any obvious candidates and, in fact, this is a franchise with a checkered draft history in any light.

Jokic was a mid-second round pick in 2014, and after sitting out his rookie season while fulfilling obligations overseas, he burst on to the scene with a lights-out debut in 2015-2016. Though Karl-Anthony Towns was a unanimous Rookie of the Year choice, Jokic made a real case for the number two spot, and he averaged 16.5 points and 11.6 rebounds per 36 minutes while shooting 51 percent from the field and more than 33 percent from three.

The talented big man is only 21 years old at the time of this point, leaving plenty of space for a flame-out that would make his inclusion look silly. Still, the type of value extracted from a mid-second round pick turning into a potentially top-flight center is immeasurable and the Nuggets should benefit greatly from their investment.

Next: Detroit Pistons

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