March Madness is finally here and with it the arrival of tomorrow’s NBA All-Stars. For the next 14 days, forget about showering, doing the laundry or taking out the trash. None of that matters during the most exciting time in the college basketball season. After all, the future of your favorite team is at stake and tournament time is a great chance for fans to identify the cream of the crop. Superstars emerge and their stock soars after huge performances on National TV. With the Denver Nuggets’ three selections they should target someone to replace departing wing Corey Brewer and find late depth at power forward. George Karl’s system is best suited for long athletes that run, run, and run some more. Because of their talent and adaptability to the system, these are the NCAA Tourney stars the Nuggets should target with their 2013 draft picks.
[caption id="attachment_330" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Colorado G Spencer Dinwiddie. Image courtesy DraftExpress.com"]
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-Round 1, Pick 25 Selection: Spencer Dinwiddie-G Colorado (6’5, 190)
If Colorado does anything in this years NCAA Tournament, it will be from the play of their star guard Spencer Dinwiddie. Dinwiddie is a smooth combo guard who is as capable passing as he is shooting. At 6'5, he is a skilled ball handler who excels in transition. He has a slight frame that needs some meat but his potential is off the charts. This Nuggets team may be the deepest squad in the league, but if there is an area where they lack depth it is at shooting guard. Dinwiddie could fill Andre Iguodala’s starting spot when his deal expires in summer 2014. The Nuggets up-tempo style would be a great fit for Dinwiddie, who will be an immediate upgrade from Julyan Stone and Jordan Hamilton. His transition to Coach Karl’s system should be as seamless as his short drive from Boulder to Denver.
-Round 2, Pick 42 Selection: Rodney Williams-F Minnesota (6’7, 200)
It will be difficult for the Nuggets to hang onto Corey Brewer this summer with limited cap space. The best case scenario for Denver would be to draft perhaps the best athlete available, Minnesota's Rodney Williams. His length (7'1 wingspan) and athleticism allow him to defend multiple positions and he is a better shooter than Brewer. Current Nuggets’ rookie Quincy Miller was the higher touted player coming out of high school but Williams is a polished senior leader who has the physical maturity to hold his own instantly. He could be a great late pick impact rookie and an immediate fan favorite.
-Round 2, Pick 51 Selection: Trevor Mbakwe-F Minnesota (6’8, 245)
The Nuggets became just another team to strike out on Anthony Randolph's potential as he has failed to become a solid backup power forward to Kenneth Faried. This late in the draft it’s rare to find a big man capable of scoring in bunches, so the Nuggets should look for another high energy big. Mbakwe showed he can be a defensive stud earlier this season when he shut down Indiana’s projected top-five draft pick Cody Zeller. His energy and defense will fit the Nuggets’ second unit much better than Anthony Randolph.
NOTE: Denver will likely give this pick to Phoenix due to pick protection.
Three bonus selections that make sense:
1. LeBryan Nash - F Oklahoma State
2. Brandon Paul - G Illinois
3. C.J. Wilcox - G Washington
Regardless of who the Nuggets select, it remains crucial their game fits the Nuggets’ system.
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