Nuggets Draft: Could Denver actually select Nikola Jovic 21st overall?

Six more draft prospects are working out for the Nuggets at Ball Arena on Friday. Here’s what you need to know about each one.

Nikola Jovic | 6-11 Forward | Age: 19 | Serbia | Projected late 1st round pick

Last year’s stats: 12 pts (41.4 FG%, 31.5 3P%, 71.8 FT%), 4.8 rebs, 3.6 asts, 0.7 stls in 28.5 mpg

Strengths: Playmaking, shot creation, offensive IQ

Weaknesses: Inefficient shooter, physicality, defense

NBA Comp: Danilo Gallinari

Nikola Jovic to the Nuggets feels too good to be true. Nikola Jokic finally gets another Serb in Denver. Jovic even played for the same club that Jokic did eight years ago. Also, and I’m not making this up, Jovic grew up playing water polo in addition to basketball.

The reality is it is probably too good to be true. I’ve heard that the Nuggets like Jovic, but he’s the exact opposite of a prospect that I’d think Denver would target in the first round. The Nuggets need defense and ideally someone who could come in and contribute right away. Jovic’s strength is his offense — he’s not a good defender at all — and at 19 he’s one of the youngest players in the draft.

But…he is tantalizing. Jovic measured at 6-11 at the draft combine. Even though he wasn’t efficient last season, he has a silky smooth offensive game. He should be a good shooter in due time and players with his handle at his size and with his natural skill aren’t too common.

So is Jovic a legit Nuggets’ target? I’d be surprised.

Christian Koloko | 7-foot Center | Age: 21 | Arizona | Projected late 1st, early 2nd round pick

Last year’s stats: 12.6 pts (53.5 FG%, 0 3P%, 73.5 FT%), 7.3 rebs, 1.4 asts, 2.8 blks in 25.4 mpg

Strengths: Shot blocking, athleticism, finishing

Weaknesses: Fundamentals/skill, one-dimensional

NBA Comp: Clint Capela

Koloko is a true center and a legit seven-footer. He’s a massive man and takes up a lot of space inside. His block numbers were insane last season and he raised his field goal percentage from 52% to 63.5% as a junior. He projects as your classic rim protector but isn’t someone I see the Nuggets having a ton of interest in unless he slips deep into the second round.

JD Davison | 6-foot-3 guard | Age: 19 | Alabama | Projected 2nd round pick

Last year’s stats: 8.5 pts (46.3 FG%, 30.1 3P%, 72.8 FT%), 4.8 rebs, 4.3 asts, 1 stl in 25.8 mpg

Strengths: Playmaking, athletic, scoring ability

Weaknesses: Shooting, defense

NBA Comp: Dennis Smith Jr.

Davison’s an ultra-athletic guard with bounce who has some playmaking and scoring chops. He’s a former five-star recruit whose star has dimmed a bit since this time last year. He’s probably worth a flier in the second round.

Fabian White Jr. | 6-foot-8 forward | Age: 23 | Houston | Projected undrafted

Last year’s stats: 12.5 pts (49.1 FG%, 37.1 3P%, 68.6 FT%), 5.7 rebs, 1.2 asts, 1.4 blks in 27.8 mpg

Strengths: Shooting, rebounding, defense

Weaknesses: Athleticism, age, shot creation

NBA Comp: Kessler Edwards

White’s best-case scenario is he’s a 3-and-D wing. The fifth-year senior is the winningest player in University of Houston history and projected to go undrafted.

Terrell Brown | 6-foot-10 Center | Age: 24 | San Diego | Projected undrafted

Last year’s stats: 8.4 pts (49.5 FG%, 25 3P%, 67.6 FT%), 7 rebs, 2.6 blks in 23.1 mpg

Brown isn’t showing up in any mock drafts. He’s just a body for this workout, or Denver will look at him for its G League team.

Strengths: Size/frame, rebounding

Weaknesses: Overall skill, shooting

NBA Comp: Damian Jones

Tommy Kuhse | 6-foot-2 guard | Age: 24 | Saint Mary’s | Projected undrafted

Last year’s stats: 12.2 pts (49.4 FG%, 45 3P%, 80.8 FT%), 3.7 rebs, 3.7 asts. 0.9 stls in 30 mpg

Strengths: Basketball IQ, shooting

Weaknesses: Defensive upside, athleticism

NBA Comp: Kevin Pangos

Kuhse is another fifth-year senior and the 5th fifth-year senior out of 12 total players that Denver has brought in across two pre-draft workouts this week. I’m not sure if that’s a hint that Denver’s looking to fill out its roster with one or two of those types of players (older, experienced, stable options on its two-way contracts is what I’m thinking or if it’s nothing at all. We’ll see. Kuhse is a steady lead ball-handler with a great feel for the game who led Saint Mary’s to the tournament last year.