The Nuggets believe they will have a better season by taking the kid from Goodyear.
Welcome to Denver, DaRon Holmes II. The Nuggets do not expect you to solve mysteries like Sherlock, smile like Katie or punch like Larry.
They simply need you to protect the rim and drain some 3s when MVP Nikola Jokic is on the bench. That is the job requirement on LinkedIn. No gymnastics or knack for making halfcourt shots (That’s the opening for Rocky the Mascot). The Nuggets need a capable quasi-center who is a stranger to fear. No previous professional experience required.
That could be Holmes, though general manager Calvin Booth views him more as a 4 longterm than a 5, which should make the rest of the roster construction interesting.
Holmes, who hails from Goodyear, Ariz., in the West Valley, wore a purple suit on draft night to honor Millennium High School. A few months ago he rallied Dayton from a 17-point deficit for its first NCAA Tournament win since 2015.
Booth saw something he could not resist. The Nuggets were linked to Holmes in the draft more than the Broncos were connected to Bo Nix. There was a belief Denver made a promise to take him, leading the 21-year-old to cancel workouts with other teams.
So enamored they were with Holmes, if not panicked, the Nuggets moved up to the 22nd spot on Wednesday night. The cost was eye-opening as they sent the Phoenix Suns the 28th and 56th selections and second-round picks in 2026 and 2031.
They were worried the Timberwolves were poised to snatch Holmes, per Nuggets reporter Bennet Durando, with Booth explaining, “There were a lot of potential landmines between 22 and our pick.”
The Nuggets are chasing ghosts, trying to find a proper stunt man for Jokic. Mason Plumlee, Isaiah Hartenstein, JaVale McGee, DeMarcus Cousins, JaMychal Green, Jeff Green, Zeke Naji … none have proven a suitable backup for the league’s best player, though Uncle Jeff left with great memories and a ring.
The reality is the Nuggets don’t require a body double, just someone capable of dotting the boxscore while Jokic catches his breath and remains fresh for the postseason. Can that be Holmes in a pairing with Aaron Gordon? Or is another body needed as a true big?
Booth was inspired to take Holmes. Forgive me for reserving judgment. You want to hear the most predictable sentence regarding the NBA draft? It’s “The Denver Nuggets take a backup center.” It makes me want to eat vanilla ice cream, put on a pair of Dockers and watch PBS.
Bor-ing.
In that regard, Holmes fits. Asked at the NBA combine about what his life is like off the court he said, “If I am not playing basketball, I am sleeping. If I am not sleeping, I am eating.”
There is nothing wrong with the Nuggets meeting a basic need and choosing steak over sizzle, though I would have relished seeing Marquette guard Tyler Kolek in a 5280 jersey.
Holmes profiles well for Denver on two levels. He will protect the rim and roll to it whether he is a forward or undersized center.
Holmes averaged 2.1 blocks per game last season, a credit to his athleticism, 7-foot-1-inch wingspan and 9-foot standing reach. And he shot 52% while rolling to hoop 123 times. The ability to set a screen is a lost art. Holmes does it well.
So, why the trepidation? He is undersized at 6-foot-9. As a small ball center, he can run the floor. But the NBA game is not played exclusively in transition. Holmes must be able to stay in front of faster opponents in the halfcourt, an issue in college, and be aggressive without fouling.
My biggest concern is his shooting. He dialed in last season, hitting 38.6% from beyond the arc. Was that an anomaly or an indication of future growth?
The Nuggets need a big man capable of shooting without thinking. Knocking down 3s is critical because Holmes’ work-in-progress ball-handling skills have left him vulnerable to turnovers.
In theory, there is time for Holmes to blossom into a contributing player. But the sobering reality is the Nuggets’ championship window is open now. That makes it a challenge to develop prospects, a tightrope coach Michael Malone understandably struggles to tiptoe. Thus, it was notable Booth said Holmes has a “very good chance of being a plug-and-play guy.”
There were multiple talking points about the Nuggets leading up to the draft, ranging from trading Michael Porter Jr. to finding a reserve point guard capable of draining jumpers for a scoring-starved second unit. A high ceiling small ball center/forward remained the sweet spot for Booth.
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He has earned the benefit of the doubt given his shrewd selections of Christian Braun and Peyton Watson. And there is still time for last year’s top pick Julian Strawther to erase the memory of his forgettable 36% field goal percentage last season.
But the grading is on a curve given the stakes. Anything less than a return to the NBA Finals will be a disappointment.
The Nuggets entered the draft with a vision. They have a house made of bricks and beams. And Wednesday, they added a Holmes made of hopes, dreams and protected rims.
They need the pick to hit. Only then, will it be a great year.
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