Killian Tillie is an NBA caliber player, but a high-risk pick

The Nuggets currently hold the No. 22 pick in the NBA Draft and the DNVR Nuggets crew is examining who Denver could pick with that selection. Make sure to mark your calendar for Wednesday, November 18, the night of the draft and DNVR Nuggets Draft Day LIVE streaming on Periscope and YouTube.

Who is Killian Tillie?

Tillie is one of this year’s high-risk, high-reward prospects. Born in France, he drew interest as one of the better international prospects in his age group and represented his country on the Under-16 National Team in the 2014 FIBA Europe U16 Championship. France took home the gold medal, and Tillie was named MVP of the tournament.

Tillie committed to Gonzaga, where he played four seasons but fought through injuries virtually his entire collegiate career. According to ‘friend of the DNBA show’ Jackson Frank, who provided the information to thestepien.com: Tillie suffered a hip pointer his sophomore year. Then a stress fracture in his ankle and partially torn plantar fascia his junior year. He also underwent a preventive knee procedure during his senior year. These injuries have likely robbed us of the best version of him, which is a shame because fans of the Nikola Jokić-era Nuggets will love his game.

Tillie’s a high IQ, 6’10” 220 lbs forward with soft touch around the rim, three-point range, and good vision as a passer. He stays within his role and “plays the game the right way,” a phrase often used by Big Honey in the Nuggets locker room. Playing unselfishly, moving the ball quickly, staying active off-ball, these are all elements of Jokić’s preferred approach to team basketball. They’re also all attributes of Tillie’s.

Injuries will likely limit his ceiling to that of a high-end role player, but that’s still on the table for him. He’s a quick decision-maker and rarely makes mistakes. Can his basketball IQ and high skill level keep him afloat at the next level despite the injuries? He’ll probably slide to the second round and could be a target for an organization hoping to trade back.

Data from sports-reference.com

Strengths

• Perimeter Shooting
• Pick-and-Pop Threat
• Finishing
• Passing
• High IQ

Weaknesses

• Injury History
• Rebounding
• Not a Rim Protector

How does Stewart fit on the Nuggets?

Offense

Tillie is a floor-spacing big who’s a catch-and-shoot threat, a threat to pop out after setting a pick and relocates well. He’s a smart passer and quick decision-maker, and while he wouldn’t be the hub of Denver’s offense the way Jokić is, savvy bench guards like Monte Morris and PJ Dozier would find easy buckets with timely cuts alongside him. He’s a skilled finisher with either hand and was a competent post-up player in college, but that’s not likely to be a big part of his NBA game.

If you like the idea of surrounding Jokić and Murray with high IQ, low mistake players, then you’ll love the idea of adding Tillie to the roster. If he stays healthy, he can crack a rotation one day as a backup big and spot starter when needed. Perhaps right away on the right team. There’s a chance Denver runs this thing back for the most part in 2020-21, but there could be some openings in the second unit’s frontcourt.

There is a fear of redundancy, though. Denver already has a highly skilled big man and a potent half-court offense. Tillie doesn’t help with the battle on the boards and isn’t a bruiser, nor does he play above the rim.

Defense

The defense is where the injuries appear to hurt Tillie the most. He’s a smart defender but not particularly athletic, and after all his body’s been through, there’s good reason to question what kind of players he can defend and for how long. He’s capable, but not great. For all the improvements Denver’s best two players have made defensively, it’s still ideal to find role players who can mitigate their weaknesses, and that’s not the case here.

He’s also not a great rebounder for his size. While the Nuggets would be adding another 6’10″+ body to the roster, this isn’t a move that helps them match up with the league’s biggest and baddest teams.

If Tillie slides to the second round, it will be for a good reason. The injury history is something beyond unfortunate, but this is among the more talented players in the draft. Should Denver take a risk and reach for him at 22? Can they trade back without shooting themselves in the foot this time? Tillie might be worth it.