The Nuggets moved up six spots to get their man on Wednesday, selecting Dayton big man DaRon Holmes II with the 22nd overall pick in the NBA draft.
Denver was long-rumored to be the landing spot for the 6-foot-9, 236-pound Holmes, who averaged 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season for the Flyers.
Here’s a look at how national media analysts graded the Nuggets’ pick:
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley (Grade: B): “The Nuggets arguably have the planet’s best player in three-time MVP Nikola Jokić. Now, the big fella might finally have a legitimate backup behind him.
“That’s a lot to ask of an incoming rookie, but DaRon Holmes II looks enticing on paper. So much so that the Nuggets parted with two picks in this draft (Nos. 28 and 56) and two future second-round picks to get this selection from the Phoenix Suns, per Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic.
“If Holmes’ uptick in shooting is real–he shot 38.6 percent from three this season but only 26.9 percent over the prior two—then he could be a fantastic screening partner for Denver’s guards. He can put the ball on the floor, finish at the basket, feed open teammates and pop out to the perimeter.
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“The Nuggets needed to leave this round with a capable backup big, and they were wise to wonder if that was realistic had they stood pat at No. 28.”
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo (No grade available): “The worst-kept secret in the NBA over the past month was the Nuggets’ interest in Holmes, with Denver thought to be the team that convinced Holmes to shut down his workouts to help steer him there. Nuggets GM Calvin Booth ultimately acquired Holmes by trading the 28th and 56th pick in this draft and two future second-round picks. Holmes is an efficient interior player who improved every season at Dayton, and the Nuggets view him as an NBA-ready depth addition who can play both alongside and behind Nikola Jokic.”
The Sporting News’ Kyle Irving (Grade: A): “Denver reportedly had its sights set on Holmes throughout most of the pre-draft process. The Nuggets needed a reliable backup for Nikola Jokic and the Dayton junior is ready to fill that role. He’s a fluid and athletic big man who locks down on defense and has shown growth as a scorer on offense.”
Yahoo! Sports (Grade: B+): “Holmes could be that hybrid big with his polished interior scoring and improvement in his shot selection behind the arc, averaging 38.6% from 3-point range.”
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