Isaiah Stewart would add a new dynamic to the Nuggets' frontcourt

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 Isaiah Stewart?

There’s some uncertainty when it comes to the Nuggets’ frontcourt depth this season. Next to Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets hope to bring back Jerami Grant in free agency. But behind those two foundational pieces, Paul Millsap and Mason Plumlee are free agents. Drafting at 22, Denver is in position to add to its frontcourt and potentially draft a player who’s both ready to contribute now — in case the Nuggets can’t bring back Millsap or Plumlee — and be a long-term building block.

Isaiah Stewart fits the bill as someone who could check both of those boxes. At 6-foot-9, 250 pounds, Stewart has the body and frame to battle opposing bigs in the paint right now. His rough and tumble style of play could also compliment both Jokic and Grant’s unique skill-sets. The 19-year-old out of the University of Washington is being mocked as a late-first or early-second round pick and should be available at No. 22 overall.

Strengths

• Savvy back-to-the-basket player with a Rolodex of post moves.
• Ultra high motor: Runs hard end to end, crashes both the offensive and defensive glass with fury.
• Finds ways to block shots even though he’s not an elite north-south athlete. Willing to the dirty work in the paint to win.
• Wasn’t a three-point shooter in college but he shot 77% from the free-throw line and he has good shot mechanics. Also has a soft touch around the rim.
• Battles hard in the paint, using his broad shoulders to seal off defenders and seize close positioning.

Weaknesses

• Does he have the necessary athleticism for today’s game? Could struggle to finish among shot-blockers. Will need to improve his lateral quickness.
• Not a modern big in the sense that he doesn’t have a great playmaking feel. Struggles right now passing out of the short roll and making NBA-level reads.
• Has potential as a shooter but didn’t shoot the three in college. Some inconsistent mechanics.

NBA Comparison: Derrick Favors

How does Stewart fit on the Nuggets?

Offense

Stewart would fill a gap in Denver’s frontcourt. The Nuggets have premier playmaking and elite offense in Jokic, and a nice combination of three-point shooting and perimeter defense in Grant. They currently don’t have someone under contract to do the dirty work inside. It turns out that’s Stewart’s forte.

Stewart could be a modern-day NBA garbage man. He was an old-school back-to-the-basket big during his one season in college, and while he’ll bring his Rolodex of post moves to whatever team drafts him, his effort, hustle, and physicality are the skills that NBA decision-makers hope translate most to the next level.

Stewart doesn’t mind getting his nose dirty. He’ll dive for loose balls and is a bulldozer on the glass and tenacious rebounder who averaged nearly three offensive rebounds per game last season. Stewart also runs the floor hard and despite his massive size will beat his matchup down the court.

He wasn’t much of a three-point threat in college, but Stewart is a solid free-throw shooter and his jump shot looks projectable. I’m buying him as an eventual shooter. Stewart will also have to improve his playmaking, which wasn’t a necessity in college but is something he’ll be asked to do at the next level. NBA big men need to be able to pass out of the short roll and make quick decisions with the ball in their hands. Stewart needs to grow in those areas.

Defense

Stewart is one of the strongest prospects in the draft and at 250 pounds he won’t be overmatched down low when he enters the league. He’ll go chest-to-chest against opposing post-up scorers and Stewart’s 7-foot-4 wingspan will come in handy if he has to guard longer bigs down low. Even though he’s not an elite north-south athlete, Stewart’s length helped him block more than two shots per game last season.

Stewart’s rebounding shouldn’t be glossed over either. Offensive and defensive rebounding is at times a skill that gets overlooked, but controlling the glass on both ends of the floor is central to the Nuggets’ philosophy. Stewart is a player who knows his role and will likely be a committed rebounder. He attacks the glass with vigor.

Stewart will have to get quicker laterally. Teams will surely try and take advantage of him defensively by switching Stewart out in pick-and-rolls and targeting him with mismatches. Still, Stewart has the strength and defensive mindset to be a factor defensively in the NBA.