2023 NBA Draft Live Tracker: Grading every pick made
2023 NBA Draft grade: No. 29 pick Julian Strawther, Denver Nuggets
Pick Analysis. player. Julian Strawther. 29. 73. Scouting Report. F. Gonzaga
Grade: B-
Not hard to see why Denver made this pick. Julian Strawther is an experienced player from one of the best prospect-to-pro pipelines in all of college basketball. Strawther will be pitched as a 3-and-D wing, but that undersells his pull-up shooting ability and passing instincts.
The Nuggets are getting a winner. Strawther competes hard on defense. One of his best traits, meanwhile, is his ability to get out in transition and wreak havoc on the fast break. The Nuggets have the best outlet passer of all time in Nikola Jokic.
Denver found a rotation wing late in the first round last summer with Christian Braun. Strawther might not live up to Braun’s immediate impact, but he’s a strong fit for a team looking for cheap, immediate contributors.
From our NBA Draft Big Board:
"An experienced collegiate wing in one of the nation’s top programs, Julian Strawther should continue to draw attention all summer thanks to his combination of size and shooting on the wing. He’s more than just 3-and-D, though — Strawther is an under-appreciated athlete who can get out in transition and play above the rim every now and then."