Nuggets Draft: Seven wing defenders Denver could target in the 1st round

The Nuggets need to upgrade their defense ahead of next season. It’s not a well-kept secret. Fortunately for Denver, there’s a solid group of high-upside defensive prospects slated to go in the first round of this year’s draft.

At 21st overall, the Nuggets should be in position to grab a difference-maker on the defensive end of the floor, like one of these seven prospects.

The trade-up targets

Jeremy Sochan: 6-foot-9 Forward | Baylor | Age: 19 | Projected lottery pick

Last year’s stats: 9.2 pts (47.4 FG%, 29.6 3P%, 58.9 FT%), 6.4 rebs, 1.8 asts, 1.3 stls, 0.7 blks in 25.1 mpg

Strengths: On and off-ball defense, basketball IQ, athleticism, playmaking

Weaknesses: Jumpshot, risk-taker, shot selection

NBA Comp: Aaron Gordon

The Nuggets would have to trade up into the lottery to nab Sochan, but it might be worth it. Sochan is arguably the best pound-for-pound defender in the draft, can switch 1-5, and at 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot wingspan and a thick build at 230 pounds has a ton of upside. He doesn’t look like he’s that far away from making an impact as a rookie either even though he’s just 19 and came off the bench at Baylor last season.

Sochan is a smart, high IQ on and off-ball disruptive defender who can both stay with smaller guards on the perimeter and bang with bigger matchups down low. Sochan anticipates everything — he has a knack for slipping around his man in the post for steals and picking off skip passes — and his length makes him a nightmare to go up against in 1-on-1 situations. He has good touch around the rim with both hands too.

Offensively, Sochan has the tools. He shot just 29.6% from 3 but was 36.5% on catch-and-shoot triples. He had some bad misses during his freshman year but his form looks OK although his awful free-throw percentage (58.9%) is concerning. He can grab-and-go and push in transition and has shown the ability to attack closeouts already. You see a lot of Aaron Gordon in his game.

Sochan’s bigger than someone who fits exactly what next year’s version of the Nuggets roster needs. He’s probably a natural 4, who like Gordon can play 3, but he could be special in the long run.

Ochai Agbaji: 6-foot-5 Guard/Forward | Kansas | Age: 22 | Projected mid 1st round pick

Last year’s stats: 18.8 pts (47.5 FG%, 40.7 3P%, 74.3 FT%), 5.1 rebs, 1.6 asts, 0.9 slts in 35.1 mpg

Strengths: Shooting upside, defense, basketball IQ

Weaknesses: Creation, shot selection, free-throw shooting

NBA Comp: Jae Crowder

You know what you’re getting with Agbaji, and that’s a big part of the senior’s appeal. He’ll enter the NBA with a sturdy 215-pound frame, 6-10 wingspan, and as a strong on and off-ball defender. He has quick feet on the perimeter and can also battle his matchup in the paint.

Offensively, Abgaji does most of his damage from 3, and he fires from distance with a ton of confidence. Abgaji can knock down 3s off the dribble and coming around screens. He’s got range too. Abgaji attempted 7.4 3s per 40 minutes last season, which was actually down from the 8.4 per 40 minutes he took as a junior. He has a really confident stroke reminiscent of Buddy Hield.

Abgaji is looked at as one of the safer choices in the first round. He’s low-maintenance and the top plug-and-play prospect out of this bunch. The 22-year-old started 116 games throughout his four years at Kansas, just won Big 12 Player of the Year, was a consensus All-American and won an NCAA championship last season. The bright lights won’t phase him.

The targets around 21

Tari Eason: 6-foot-8 forward | Sophomore | LSU | Age: 21 | Projected mid 1st round pick

Last year’s stats: 16.9 pts (52.1 FG%, 35.9 3P%, 80.3 FT%), 6.6 rebs (2.3 offensive rebounds), 1 ast, 1.8 stls, 1.2 blks in 24.4 mpg

Strengths: Defensive versatility and upside, athleticism, rebounding

Weaknesses: Shooting, undisciplined, forces the issue

NBA Comp: Herb Jones

I wrote about Eason a few weeks back and called him the Herb Jones of this draft. I don’t know if he’ll be as ready to contribute on day 1 like Jones was in New Orleans last year, but he’s a similarly disruptive defender.

EJ Liddell: 6-foot-7 Forward | Ohio State | Age: 21| Projected mid 1st round pick

Last year’s stats: 19.4 pts (48 FG%, 37.4 3FG%, 76.5 FT%), 7.9 rebs, 2.5 asts, 2.6 blks in 33.2 mpg

Strengths: Shot-blocking, defense, motor, shooting

Weaknesses: Tunnell vision, undersized

NBA Comp: Paul Millsap

Like Abgaji, Liddell has a high floor compared to some of the other prospects in this range. He’s a big body at 240 pounds and played center for most of his sophomore season before becoming a more versatile defender last year as a junior. Now, he can defend all over the floor. He’s an elite shot-blocker (8.5 BLK% last season which blows Eason’s impressive 6.2 BLK% out of the water) and shined in a few marquee matchups last year. Liddell held Paolo Banchero to 14 points on 4-14 shooting in an early-season win over Duke.

On offense, Liddell projects as a good shooter with solid mechanics. He went from a non-shooter as a freshman to 33.8% from 3-point range as a sophomore to 37.4% last season. Liddell loves to work in the post too, but I don’t know if he’ll continue to be super effective there at the next level since he’s undersized at 6-7. His 6-11 wingspan and 38-inch max vert will help, however. Liddell reminds you of Paul Millsap. He’s not afraid of any matchup.

The targets past 21

Dalen Terry: 6-foot-7 Guard/Forward | Freshman | Arizona | Age: 19 | Projected late 1st round pick

Last year’s stats: 8 pts (50.2 FG%, 36.4 3P%, 73.6 FT%), 4.8 rebs, 3.9 asts, 1.2 stls in 27.8 mpg

Strengths: Versatile defender, role player potential, motor, athleticism

Weaknesses: Shooting, Out of Control, Not polished

NBA Comp: Will Barton

Terry’s a swiss army knife who played both point guard and off the ball in college and has the potential to be a high-impact defender at the next level. He’s wiry and thin, but plays hard all the time and has plus length (7-1 wingspan, 8-10 standing reach) and a ton of athleticism. Terry was a role player in college and he’ll be a role player in the pros too. That should be an attractive quality to NBA teams. He also knows how to pass and is aggressive on the glass.

Shooting is a big weakness of Terry’s, but he improved his 3-point and free-throw percentages from his freshman to sophomore seasons. The 19-year-old still looks raw, needs polish, and plays out of control at times, but Terry’s a unique player who seems to be rising up draft boards.

Christian Braun | 6-foot-7 Guard | Junior | Kansas | Age: 21 | Projected late 1st, early 2nd round pick

Last year’s stats: 14.1 pts (49.5 FG%, 38.6 3P%, 73.3 FT%), 6.5 rebs, 2.8 asts, 1 stl in 34.4 mpg

Strengths: On-ball defense, athleticism, basketball IQ, motor

Weaknesses: Slow release, scoring upside, ball handling

NBA Comp: Wes Matthews

Braun’s a two-way wing who’s a really good athlete and does a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor. He’s known as a shooter, and that’s how he’ll be able to make a living in the NBA. Braun’s also a high IQ player who should be able to fit into any system that can manufacture open looks for him, because he won’t find them by himself. Defensively, he’s smart, always around the ball, and generates turnovers despite his negative wingspan.

Wendell Moore: 6-foot-5 Guard/Forward | Duke | Age: 20 | Projected late 1st, early 2nd round pick

Last year’s stats: 13.4 pts (50 FG%, 41.3 3P%, 80.5 FT%), 5.3 rebs, 4.4 asts, 1.4 stls in 33.9 mpg

Strengths: Defensive upside, basketball IQ, shooting upside

Weaknesses: Questionable shot selection, below-the-rim finisher, creation ability

NBA Comp: Josh Hart

I wrote about Moore when the Nuggets brought him in for a workout earlier this week. There’s a lot to like. On paper, he fits exactly what the Nuggets are looking for. He’s long and rangy with a 7-foot wingspan, gets a ton of steals and does a little of everything.