DaRon Holmes II (R) shakes arms with NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) after being drafted twenty second general by the Phoenix Suns in the course of the first spherical of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Middle on June 26, 2024 within the Brooklyn borough of New York Metropolis. NOTE TO USER: Person expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this {photograph}, Person is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Photos License Settlement. (Picture by Sarah Stier/Getty Photos)
The Nuggets’ ongoing pursuit of frontcourt assist for Nikola Jokic impressed normal supervisor Calvin Sales space to leap six spots within the first spherical of the 2024 NBA Draft for a prospect he’s decided will be a part of the answer.
Denver traded up from No. 28 to amass the twenty second general choose from Phoenix on Wednesday night time, deciding on Dayton huge man DaRon Holmes II, the group introduced. The Nuggets dealt each of their 2024 draft picks (Nos. 28 and 56) plus two future second-rounders to make the transfer.
They traded up as a result of they anticipated different groups to draft Holmes within the 20s, together with former govt Tim Connelly and the Timberwolves at No. 27, a league supply advised The Denver Publish. Sales space hinted at that in a information convention Wednesday, saying “There have been lots of potential landmines between 22 and our choose, particularly having a division rival in entrance of us that in all probability values the man too.”
Holmes, who turns 22 in August, canceled a number of exercises with different groups and was linked to Denver from the start of the pre-draft course of, with rumors of a promise from the Nuggets’ entrance workplace. The 6-foot-9, 236-pound heart averaged 20.4 factors, 8.5 rebounds and a pair of.6 assists his third and last season of school basketball, successful Atlantic 10 Participant of the 12 months and Defensive Participant of the 12 months. He led the nation in scoring as a roll man and improved his 3-point taking pictures (38.6%) to change into a harmful pick-and-pop weapon. Sales space stated the broad base and constant launch in Holmes’ taking pictures kind reminds him of Al Horford.
“There wasn’t essentially a promise,” Sales space stated, “however as soon as we obtained into the 20s and there was an opportunity to get him, we wished to go get our man, basically.”
The Nuggets have lacked versatility and rim safety of their frontcourt, and Holmes may immediately provide that trait as a possible plug-and-play backup for Jokic. He averaged 2.1 blocks per sport throughout his three seasons at Dayton, and he generated simple offense as a dunk menace.
However regardless of extensively projecting as a small-ball 5, Sales space sees Holmes as a beginning 4 within the NBA long-term. “I feel the league has change into just a little bit extra bodily,” he stated. “They’re permitting just a little bit extra contact on close-outs. And the extra you begin to see that — we witnessed it within the Minnesota collection, it’s a really bodily sport — in that type of NBA, I feel he’s a 4 all day.”
Because of the commerce not being made official till after the primary spherical was full, Holmes posed with NBA commissioner Adam Silver whereas sporting a Suns hat onstage in Brooklyn, whereas the Nuggets technically drafted Virginia’s Ryan Dunn for Phoenix to finish the deal.
“I don’t assume all rookies are made the identical,” Sales space stated. “I feel you might have the 18- or 19-year-old guys which will or could not have extra upside. After which you might have another guys which can be achieved, that do lots and for all intensive functions could also be extra prepared for high-pressure NBA video games than some guys on NBA rosters, which were within the league for 2 or three years. In that sense, I feel DaRon is a type of guys. Has a excessive IQ. Is aware of the way to play in numerous kinds and totally different eventualities. I feel he has an excellent likelihood of being a plug-and-play man.”
Within the first yr of a brand new two-day draft format, there was just one choice to guage at curtains, not like final yr when the Nuggets snagged three gamers in a stretch of 9 picks the identical night time: Julian Strawther, Jalen Pickett and Hunter Tyson.
They not possess a draft choose Thursday (2 p.m. MT, ESPN) within the second spherical. Sales space stated Denver will monitor the second spherical Thursday, however he doesn’t anticipate the group making a transfer again into the rest of this draft.
This was Sales space’s third draft and seventh choose since Connelly left Denver for Minnesota in 2022. 5 of the earlier six are nonetheless on the roster, together with 2022 choices Christian Braun and Peyton Watson. Beneath each regimes, the Nuggets have dedicated to constructing by way of the draft. Supplementing the bench with homegrown prospects has grown particularly crucial since Sales space took over because of the 2023 collective bargaining settlement, which is nastier to take care of for contending groups.
For a entrance workplace that’s simply starting to take care of these new challenges, Wednesday’s draft was a significant second. The Nuggets exited Ball Area on the finish of the night time feeling like they’ve obtained a steal.
“I feel the soar he took in talent and 3-point shot (final season) took him to a unique stage of a prospect,” Sales space stated of Holmes. “I similar to guys who’ve to hold the load for his or her group, and (Dayton) gained lots. He performed many alternative defenses that attempted to close him down. … I feel his protection shall be higher at this stage.”
Meet DaRon Holmes
Spherical/choose: 1st/No. 22
Age: 21
Peak/weight: 6-foot-9/236 kilos
Faculty: Dayton
Hometown: Goodyear, Ariz.
Notable: Holmes was an Atlantic 10 All-Protection choice all three years in faculty. He was named the convention’s co-Participant of the 12 months and Defensive Participant of the 12 months this previous season after averaging 20.4 factors, 8.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a pair of.1 blocks per sport whereas taking pictures 54.4% from the sector. He was additionally a consensus All-American for the Flyers.
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