2017 NBA Mock Draft, Week 22: College basketball is over

Nikola Jokic has emerged as the centerpiece of the Denver Nuggets’ future, but finding the right pieces to fit around him will take some time. One area where Jokic struggles is as a rim protector, so pairing him with a combo forward considered one of the top defenders in the draft could work out well.

Indiana’s OG Anunoby is a 6-foot-8 wing who can play either forward spot, has a lengthy wingspan and defended multiple positions in college. His long wingspan — reportedly 7-foot-6 — allowed him to block 2.2 shots per 40 minutes as a collegiate player, which is really nice number for a player of his stature. Anunoby may not be an elite rim protector at the NBA level, but he would at least provide some resistance next to Jokic. The 19-year old also has no problems switching onto smaller players and chasing them around the perimeter as he showed against current Nugget Jamal Murray in last year’s NCAA Tournament.

Anunoby has a long ways to go on the offensive end, though. He struggles to shoot it from deep and doesn’t offer much in the way of creation for himself or others. Right now, his best work is done as a slasher or offensive rebounder.

Learn more about OG Anunoby at The Step Back.