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Portland Trail Blazers: Top draft priority for each Northwest Division team

By Austin Carroll

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - FEBRUARY 11: Paul George #13 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder look on after the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 11, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - FEBRUARY 11: Paul George #13 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder look on after the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 11, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – MAY 7: Monte Morris #11 of the Denver Nuggets smiles during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Game Five of the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – MAY 7: Monte Morris #11 of the Denver Nuggets smiles during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Game Five of the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
  • 2018-19 record: 54-28 (1st in Northwest Division)
  • Draft picks: none

Draft Priority: Finding the Next Jokic or Morris

If there’s anyone who has had a lot of second-round luck in recent years, it’s the Denver Nuggets. In the 2014 NBA Draft, Denver nabbed Nikola Jokic at No. 41 overall. Now he appears in the running to be a consensus top ten player in the league. In 2017, the Nuggets drafted Monte Morris at No. 51, who now looks like he could be a starter for half the teams in the league.

Although the Nuggets do not currently have a second-round pick at their disposal, it shouldn’t be too difficult to acquire another. The 76ers, Clippers and Kings all have multiple second-round picks and are all poised to make a big splash in this year’s loaded free agency class. Denver could offer a big bag of cash to these teams looking to make a splash in return for taking the financial commitment of another project player off their hands.

Top Draft Targets: Jontay Porter, Naz Reid, Daniel Gafford

Looking ahead to the future, the Nuggets could use a little revitalization to their big man rotation. Paul Millsap’s fate with the organization is still unclear and none of Trey Lyles, Tyler Lydon or Jarred Vanderbilt look capable of being the immediate heir to the position. Mason Plumlee has been a relatively effective rim protector and spot-starter but is also on the last year of his deal.

The Nuggets could capitalize on the family connection and bring in another talented player who saw his stock drop due to injuries in Jontay Porter. His shooting ability differs him from the traditional big man archetype and could even be playable next to Jokic in spurts. Naz Reid also plays like a guard in a big man’s body that would lend itself well to Denver’s pass-centric system.

Next. Potential draft day trades for the Blazers. dark

Tune in tonight at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT to see who the Portland Trail Blazers select and how all the drama unfolds.