Nuggets Draft: Latest buzz and is the Monte Morris trade talk real?

Calvin Booth’s first draft as the Nuggets’ lead decision-maker is tonight. The feeling is he’s going to be aggressive in upgrading Denver’s roster. Here’s the latest, plus my final top-5 realistic big board for the Nuggets at 21.

Is the Monte Morris trade talk real?

Yes, it’s real. Morris has a tradeable contract at $9.1 million next season and he’s coveted for his steady and consistent point guard play. Last season with Jamal Murray out of the lineup, Morris proved to the rest of the league what those of us in Denver have known over the last several years: He’s more than capable of leading a team as a starting point guard.

Murray’s also set to return next season and will reclaim the Nuggets’ starting point guard spot. Bones Hyland showed last season that he can be a game-changer at backup point guard too. That’s what makes Morris somewhat expendable.

There’s been significant buzz that the Washington Wizards are interested in Morris, which The Athletic reported Thursday morning. It’s a rumor that makes a lot of sense. Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. knows Morris well and coached him for four seasons in Denver. Washington is also lost at point guard right now. Ish Smith is the only point guard the Wizards have under contract for next season.

I’ve also heard legit rumblings for months that the Nuggets would be interested in bringing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to Denver. Caldwell-Pope makes a manageable $13 million next season, but I always figured swapping him for Will Barton ($15.6 million) was the natural move. I’d be shocked if Barton was playing for the Nuggets next year by the way. Denver was not thrilled with his play last season.

Could the Nuggets get Caldwell-Pope in a deal centered around Morris? Or Barton? Or both? I think it’s something to keep an eye on today and even into the summer. Something else to keep an eye on tonight is that the Wizards currently hold the 10th overall pick in the draft.

Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma plus salary filler for Morris and Barton works financially. That would be a great deal for Denver.

The final piece to the Morris puzzle is that he’s highly valued in Denver. The Nuggets know how much he’s meant to the organization over the last several years. They know how good of a teammate Morris has been and how valuable of a statesman he is for this franchise. I’m told Booth will only trade Morris if it upgrades the Nuggets’ roster.

If the Nuggets do move Morris, or maybe even if they don’t, there’s a point guard I think they could target at the end of the first round or beginning of the second. Andrew Nembhard out of Gonzaga has some fans within the Nuggets’ front office. He’s an experienced lead ball-handler who started 115 games for Gonzaga over the last four seasons and is one of the best pick-and-roll point guards in the draft. He has made himself into a solid 3-point shooter — last year Nembhard hit 38% of his 3s — and was a career 79% free-throw shooter at Gonzaga. He has good size at 6-4 and a sky-high basketball IQ. He can read any defense and takes care of the ball. Nembhard had the seventh-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the country last season.

My read is that Denver could view him as the Monte Morris of this draft. In that sense, he’d be a natural replacement. If the Nuggets keep pick No. 30 or trade back into the second round, he could be an option for Denver.

I’ve heard these names are in play for Denver at pick No. 21: Eason, if he falls, Beauchamp, Terry and Blake Wesley, a freshman point guard out of Notre Dame.

My top-5 Nuggets Big Board — realistic options for No. 21

1. Jalen Williams | 6-6 Guard/Forward | Santa Clara | Junior | Age: 21

Williams is likely gone before 21 but I haven’t moved off of him as my No. 1 prospect for the Nuggets. His elite feel for the game and well-rounded, two-way skill-set make him an ideal fit for Denver on the wing. I think Williams could step in and play a role next season. Nikola Jokic would love playing with him.

2. Tari Eason | 6-8 Forward | LSU | Sophomore | Age: 21

Eason fits the mold of the long, rangy, versatile defender that the Nuggets should be targeting this offseason. He has the biggest hands in the 2022 draft class and some of the best measurables at 6-8 with a 7-2 wingspan. He’s a big-time athlete and can be an elite, switchable defensive weapon. I’ve heard he’s a candidate to slide in the first round.

3. Marjon Beauchamp | 6-6 Wing | G League Ignite | Age: 21

Beauchamp is also the type of defender that Denver should be targeting this summer. He’s got great instincts on that end of the floor, active hands and nice defensive awareness. He’s quick enough to be a switch-everything defender too. With a 7-1 wingspan, Beauchamp is elite at closing out to shooters and helps him cover a ton of ground on the backside of a defense. His shot looked good to me too at Monday’s workout in Denver.

4. Dalen Terry | 6-7 Athlete | Arizona | Sophomore | Age: 19

Terry can play point guard, shooting guard and small forward. He’s incredibly versatile, has great vision and passing instincts. The Andre Iguodala vibes are obvious. Terry’s a ridiculous athlete too. Defensively, he flies around the court generating steals, and deflections and makes any offense uncomfortable. He’s disruptive both on and off the ball. The one worry you have about Terry is his jumper. There needs to be some work done there.

5. Wendell Moore Jr. | 6-6 Guard | Duke | Junior | Age: 20

I view Moore as one of the safer choices at the end of the first round. He’s already an accomplished two-way player and could step in and play a role for a playoff team on day 1 next season. Moore has good size and length with a 7-1 wingspan and is comfortable playing a secondary role on a star-studded team, as he did at Duke last season. He’d slot into a similar situation if he found his way to Denver.