Kentucky's Tyler Ulis is ready for the next step

With Emmanuel Mudiay coming off an encouraging rookie season that cemented him as the probable point guard in Denver for the near future, the Nuggets shouldn’t be in the market for another lead guard in this draft.

However, the backcourt behind Mudiay remains murky.

D.J. Augustin is coming off a 28-game stint with the Nuggets where he showed that he’s still, well D.J. Augustin. The 28-year-old has gravity from beyond the arc, can make the easy pass when needed and is a capable back up point guard on a lottery bound franchise. He’s also an unrestricted free agent who’s looking for a multi-year contract to jump start the latter half of his career.

Jameer Nelson is a question mark as well. He only appeared in 39 games last season before injuries led to new roster additions that took his place in the rotation. When he was healthy, Nelson, like Augustin showed his capabilities as a sound backup.

Either one of Augustin, who’s an unrestricted free agent this summer or Nelson, who has two years remaining on his contract, could be back with the Nuggets next season, but I still look at the point guard position as a need Denver should address this offseason.

Enter Tyler Ulis, a 5-foot-10 point guard out of Kentucky who’s currently projected to go in the middle of the first-round and was at Pepsi Center for a pre-draft workout Wednesday. Could he be the Nuggets’ back up point guard of the future.

I detailed Ulis before his workout here, but got the chance to speak to him on Wednesday to put a little context about what I was watching him do last season.

Heart above height

Did you know “Heart Above Height,” is the name of a biography about Nate Robinson? Did you know someone wrote a biography about Nate Robinson?

Anyways, there’s no one in this draft who embodies that corny mantra more than Ulis, who’s listed at 5-foot-10, but knows he can succeed in the NBA because of the undersized guards that are currently excelling like Isaiah Thomas and Kemba Walker.

“Those are two guards are my size, showing that they can play at a high level,” Ullis said. “Isaiah Thomas being an All-Star is a big inspiration.”

However, the comparisons between the three stop at their heights. Ulis is more of a pass-first point guard, who’s likely to distribute, rather than look for his shot. The 20-year-old averaged 7.2 assists last season at Kentucky, the seventh-most in the NCAA.

“They’re more attack-first, score-first, I’m more of a pass-first guy and just catch my shots in rhythm,” Ulis said. “What they’re doing at that level, it just shows you what I can do.”

It’s going to be an adjustment moving from playing against student-athltetes to grown men who rely on their performances to feed their families, but Ulis feels prepared. His experience at Kentucky, where he’s gone up against future pros in practice and pickup, gives him confidence he’s ready for that next step.

“Ive played with ten pros so far [at Kentucky], John Wall, Eric Bledsoe, DeMarcus Cousins, those guys came and ran open gym with us so you got a feel for it a little bit,” Ulis said. “I know what to expect, kind of, so I’m already preparing myself mentally, Ive been through it.”

One way Ulis compensates for his size when playing against taller defenders is by mimicking a lot of what Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul does on the floor. He’s Ulis’ favorite player, is someone he’s looked up to and tried to take bits and pieces of his game and apply them to his own.

“I watched a lot of [Paul] when I didn’t watch the NBA much, thats who I always watched when he came on,” Ulis said. “His feel for the game, the way he leads on the court, the way he uses ball screens, splitting it. The step backs are something I use to try and get separation.”

Like Paul, once Ullis gets into the teeth of defense he uses hesitation moves combined with an uncanny handle to create just enough space to get a good look off. Notice the similarities the two have in their mid-range games.

(Courtesy of DraftExpress)

Despite his slight frame, Ulis has found a way to be effective. During a summer where he’s already improved so much and gotten loads of constructive feedback from general manager’s and front office’s, his height is the last thing the point guard is worried about.

“If the size is the only thing they’re talking about, that’s the only thing I can’t do anything about,” Ulis said. “I just understand that I have to get stronger. That’s all I can do I can’t make myself grow no more, I know what I have, I know what I am, they see that I’m 5-foot-10 and I’m just sticking with it, working on my game.”