Nuggets Draft: Wendell Moore fits what Denver is looking for

The Nuggets plan to work out six players Tuesday morning at Ball Arena. It’s their first official pre-draft workout of the offseason. Here’s what you need to know about all six prospects.

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

Moore is a 6-5 guard with a 7-foot wingspan and was a steal merchant in college. Last season in his junior year, he averaged 1.4 steals per game. Moore is a strong body too. It’s not hard to imagine him switching between positions 1-3 and against small-ball 4s too. He barely fouls too — just 1.6 fouls per game last season.

Strengths

• Defensive upside and instincts both on and off-ball.
• Thinks the game like a point guard, effective pick-and-roll passer and playmaker.
• Made decisions in plenty of NBA-type sets and reads in college.
• Selfless passer who looks to get others involved and high IQ cutter.
• Great looking mid-range jumper.
• 81.4% free-throw shooter across three years at Duke and shot up to 41% from 3 last season.

Weaknesses

• Not an above the rim finisher, not a ton of hang time.
• Rim protectors can alter his shot with length and athleticism.
• Not a ton of self-creation.
• Went to the ISO step-back a bunch in college.
• Stiff shooter who just became a good 3-point shooter his junior year.

Jake LaRavia | 6-foot-8 Forward | Wake Forest | Projected early 2nd round pick

I’ve seen LaRavia rise up draft boards over the last couple of months. He was a role player in college who will be a role player at the NBA, and that’s what could intrigue teams at the end of the 1st round. He knows who he is, and a big part of his game is a knock-down, catch-and-shoot 3.

Strengths

• You can envision him in the pick-and-roll knocking in 3s from the top of the key. Elite shooting stroke.
• Savvy cutter and off-ball mover.
• Knows how to play the game — runs the floor well in transition, plays his position/role on offense.
• Selfless passer who keeps the ball moving and makes his teammates better.
• Good positioning and effort on defense. Can anticipate passes as a help-side defender.

Weaknesses

• Not a great athlete — you wonder how that’s going to translate defensively. 6-9 wingspan too.
• Is he a high-level player, and can he get by on his effort and motor?
• Not a shot-creator at all — needs to be put in position to score.

Josh Minott | 6-foot-8 Forward | Memphis | Projected 2nd round pick

A prototypical NBA wing with a 6-11 wingspan and a nice level of athleticism. Minott is inexperienced and only played 14.6 minutes per game during his freshman year at Memphis. He looks the part and was a late bloomer who didn’t become a name until his senior year of high school. He’s got tools but has a ways to go.

Strengths

• Athleticism and frame pops — finishes above the rim with ease and covers a lot of ground on drives, highlight-reel dunker.
• Nice offensive polish for a player with his age and lack of experience.
• Didn’t play a lot of minutes, but his defensive stats were elite — 2.2 steals and and 1.8 blocks per 40 minutes — looks like he could be a good defender.

Weaknesses

• Needs to fill out his frame, but seems like he’ll be able to do that.
• Sometimes out of control on drives and with the ball.
• Awful shooter — teams left him wide open from 3. Like, an awful, broken, needs-to-be completely re-worked shot.
• Not a very heady player — bad turnovers and decision-making, bad handle.

David Roddy | 6-foot-5 Forward | Colorado State | Projected 2nd round pick

The local kid who has fans in the Nuggets’ front office, Roddy’s motor never stops. He plays hard every single possession and that’s part of his intrigue. Roddy’s a unique prospect and a powerful athlete at 6-5 with a 6-11.5 wingspan. A three-sport athlete and all-state quarterback in high school.

Strengths

• High IQ player who should be able to adapt and find his role in any type of system.
• Selfless player and passer — looks to get others going.
• Unique athlete with good feet and a powerful frame.
• Shined as a shooter last season.
• Tough defender who will take on any matchup and plays bigger than his size.

Weaknesses

• Will have to drop some weight at the NBA level, but will he keep his strength and effectiveness?
• Unproven shooter who had one good shooting season in college — it was a great year though
• Not an elite athlete at all. Struggled vs. high-level athletes/length in the NCAA 1st round vs. Michigan.

Jermaine Samuels | 6-foot-7 Forward | Villanova | Projected 2nd round or undrafted

Classic, fundamentally sound Villanova big man who is a fifth-year senior and a bit of a jack of all trades. Can rebound, defend and play his role well. Samuels probably makes a roster just off his motor and the fact that he defends and plays the right way.

Strengths

• Good positional defender.
• Solid rebounder and screener who has no problem banging down low.
• Plays hard all the time — great motor.
• Loves to get his points by driving past, through his defender — quicker than he looks.
• Has an NBA frame with great strength.

Weaknesses

• Not a good shooter — shot above 35% from 3 just once across five college seasons.
• Don’t see where he has a ton of upside — probably projects as a career backup.
• If he can’t shoot it, what is he bringing on offense?

Lucas Williamson | 6-foot-4 Guard | Loyola | Projected 2nd round or undrafted

Another fifth-year senior, Williamson is the back-to-back Missouri Valley Defensive Player of the Year and has consistently been one of the best defenders in the country. He’s a bulldog on that end of the floor who moves his feet well and anticipates his matchup incredible well. Sleeper potential to make a Gary Payton II-type impact in the right situation.

Strengths

• Elite individual perimeter defender who also has great awareness off-ball.
• Moves his feet well, reads every passing lane.
• Undersized for a two-guard but is bulldog strong with an NBA frame and 6-7.5 wingspan.
• Smart player who takes the right shots — hit 39% of his 3s on 5.7 attempts/game last season.
• Locks down his man without fouling — 2.1 fouls per game last year.

Weaknesses

• Not a well-developed offensive game.
• Isn’t a point guard — will have to knock down shots to play the 2.
• He’s not an elite athlete — will have to get by on his IQ and feel for the game.
• Not much to his offensive game other than some drives and catch-and-shoot 3s.