Nuggets hold three first round picks in 2016 draft after Rockets defeat Kings

The Houston Rockets defeated the Sacramento Kings on the last night of the regular season to clinch the final playoff spot in the West, meaning Houston’s 2016 first round pick will be conveyed to Denver in this summer’s NBA draft.

The pick, which came to Denver in the trade that sent former Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson to Houston was protected for selections 1-14. Since Houston clinched the eighth seed and are technically the 15th worst team in the West, that pick goes to Denver.

As it stands now, the Nuggets have their own first round pick, or the Knicks pick, (whichever is higher after the draft lottery on May 17), the Rockets pick, (15th overall) and the Portland Trail Blazers first round selection (19th overall), which was conveyed to the Nuggets once Portland clinched a playoff spot. The Blazers pick came to Denver via the trade that sent Arron Afflalo to Portland, and was also protected for selections 1-14.

Denver had the chance to have four first round picks this summer if Memphis dropped out of the playoffs, but they’ll have to wait until 2017 or even 2018 to see that pick. It’s only protected for selections 1-5 in 2017, 1-5 in 2018, and is unprotected in 2019.

The Nuggets are without their own second round pick this summer, but have Charlotte’s and Oklahoma City’s selections which are both slated towards the end of the draft. Those picks originated from the trade that sent Randy Foye to the Thunder.

Although the upcoming draft is considered weak to average by many NBA scouts, the three picks give Denver a lot to work with in a summer that will go a long way towards determining the franchise’s direction. The Nuggets will be in a position to potentially move up in the lottery using the bevy of picks they hold, or can combine them with the number of attractive assets on moveable contracts currently on the roster to use in a trade.

General manager Tim Connelly better make sure he pays his cell phone bill in June, it could be a busy draft night in the Nuggets war room.