Given that the Nuggets have been drafting players in their late 20s the past few seasons, they’re doing pretty well. The success rate of NBA draft picks drops after the first few picks, it’s even lower outside of the lottery, and in the 20s and beyond, it’s practically a gamble.
But the Nuggets have done a good job of that, signing solid contributors in Christian Braun and Peyton Watson, while Julian Strawther is primed to make an impact this season. The team was also very happy to sign DaRon Holmes II this season and believes he will make an impact once he recovers from his torn Achilles tendon.
These are four rotation players. Players have been added with last-minute picks over the last two years, which is extremely impressive. There’s no doubt that the scouting team deserves a lot of credit; they’ve always been able to find diamonds in the rough.
But that scouting department recently took a hit when the head of the scouting department, Drew Nicholas has been hired and will join the Brooklyn NetsNicholas has led the department since he was hired in 2022 and by all accounts has done an excellent job.
Fans may remember Nicholas for his playing exploits at Maryland, where he helped the Terrapins win a national championship in 2002. He also made an All-ACC team in 2002, but Nicholas never played in the NBA.
This is a tough blow for the Nuggets, who have suffered losses throughout the organization in recent years. But the good news is that the team has been able to replace front office talent and, even with the turnover, has consistently managed to add talented young players.
The success goes back well beyond Nicholas’ time with the team and while he was clearly good at his job, there’s no reason to I think his loss will be the end of the Nuggets’ draft successHopefully the team will have replacement options in sight and trust the rest of the scouting department to carry the load going forward.
It won’t be Denver’s biggest or most glamorous loss of the offseason, but its impact will certainly be felt.
