Three directions the Nuggets could go on draft night

I was most of the way through an episode of “The Office” when the Nuggets finally beat the odds. Around the time Dwight blasted “Everybody Hurts” from his Trans Am, Tankathon spit out a scenario where the Nuggets picked second. It took 208 simulations for them to move up. As all that mouse mashing illustrates, Denver’s chances of leaping into Luka Doncic range at the NBA Draft Lottery on May 15 are about the same as Dwight trading his Trans Am in for a Prius.

The Nuggets have a 1.8 percent chance of jumping from 14th to get a top-three pick and a 0.5 percent chance of getting the No. 1 overall selection. Those crummy odds are a product of winning 46 games and not making the playoffs.

Let’s assume that when the ping pong balls are finished bouncing around next week, the Nuggets end up with the 14th selection. What are their options? They’ve already got more traditional power forwards than they know what to do with and a potential gaping hole at small forward to address. Here are three scenarios to consider.

1. The Nuggets trade up to nab one of the Bridges

Denver has its back court of the future in Jamal Murray and Gary Harris and its franchise player in center Nikola Jokic. It’s set at those positions for years to come. Now the Nuggets’ front office is focused on how to fill in the gaps around those building blocks. The Jokic-Murray-Harris trio singed opponents for 114.8 points per 100 possessions in nearly 1,300 minutes together last season. That group also surrendered 108.9 points per 100 possessions, a mark identical to what the lowly Sacramento Kings allowed.

Adding a forward who can provide some resistance on the defensive end seems like a logical move. Denver was targeting O.G. Anunoby when it traded back to 24th in last summer’s draft, but the Raptors picked him one spot ahead at 23rd in a move that could haunt the Nuggets’ front office for years to come. Oh, what could have been….

Drafting one of the forwards in this summer’s draft with the last name Bridges — either Mikal out of Villanova or Miles out of Michigan State — could help soften the blow of narrowly missing out on Anunoby. Both Bridges possess qualities that, if they translate, would fit in well alongside the Jokic-Murray-Harris core: the ability to defend multiple positions and above average three-point strokes.

Of the two, I’m higher on Mikal. The two-time national champion at Villanova has the potential to become a defensive terror at the next level. He’s got good instincts and lateral quickness. He wreaks havoc with his 7-foot-2 wingspan. He’s not as explosive of an athlete as Miles, but he can still do this.

One other plus: Mikal shot a sizzling 43.5 percent on six three-point attempts per game in his final season with the Wildcats. He’s mostly a catch-and-shoot player right now, but it’s not like he would need to take on playmaking responsibilities next to Jokic.

The other Bridges, Miles, would also be an interesting fit next to the foundational pieces Denver already has in place. He’s a freaky leaper who makes the whole arena rattle when he throws down a dunk.

He shot the three ball well in two seasons with the Spartans at a hair under 38 percent on 5.5 attempts per game. He was also an adequate defender. Miles is a better leaper than Mikal right now, but his game also looks a little more robotic. He might be better suited to play power forward in the NBA.

Both Bridges will almost assuredly be gone by the 14th pick. If the Nuggets are interested in either of them, they could offer either Malik Beasley or Trey Lyles and the 14th pick to a team in the 7-10 range. Beasley and Lyles figure to be fringe rotation players for Denver next season the way its roster is constructed.

2. Denver stays at 14 and adds wing depth

Wilson Chandler has a player option he’ll make a decision on by June 24. Will Barton is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Even if the Nuggets don’t swing a deal for one of the Bridges, they’ll likely still be targeting a wing if they stay at 14 because there’s a possibility their top two small forwards leave this summer.

Here are three players Denver could choose with the last lottery pick.

• Zhaire Smith, Guard/Forward, Texas Tech, Freshman

Smith wasn’t even ranked among Rivals’ top 150 players coming out of high school, but after a breakout season at Texas Tech, he’s considered a fringe lottery pick. One of the most explosive players in this draft, Smith specializes in rebounding, defending multiple positions and throwing down dunks during games most players would only attempt in dunk contests.

He’s a freak athlete who’s strong and long (6-foot-11 wingspan) enough to check all sorts of different players defensively. The biggest question marks about him are his shooting stroke and ball-handling ability. Smith attempted only 40 three-point attempts all season, and he knocked down free throws at a 72 percent rate. He also got by with an unrefined handle. He’ll need to gain more confidence in his shot, perhaps by overhauling his mechanics, and tighten up his handle to find success at the next level.

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Guard, Kentucky, Freshman

Gilgeous-Alexander was one of the craftier finishers in college basketball in his lone season at Kentucky. He got by defenders with smooth stop-and-start moves and put the ball in the hoop with a whole bag of tricks, including floaters, euro steps, spins and scoops.

He’s tall (6-foot-6) and long (6-foot-11 wingspan) for a lead ball handler. At 180 pounds, he’s also rail thin (think: Will Barton). Gilgeous-Alexander projects as an excellent on-ball defender, but it’s unclear if his slight frame will limit him from ever effectively shadowing small forwards.

The biggest reason to be skeptical about Gilgeous-Alexander: funky shooting mechanics. He pushes the ball more than she shoots it. Although he knocked down threes at a 40.4 percent rate, he only attempted 1.5 per game.

• Kevin Knox, Forward, Kentucky, Freshman

Another one-and-done player out of Kentucky, Knox had a lot of nice moments but few spectacular ones. He has a pretty jumper, but he only converted 34.1 percent of his three-point attempts. He has the ability to put the ball on the floor but rarely wowed you with his athleticism.

He’s a fluid athlete for someone who’s 6-foot-9. Is he fluid enough to play most of his minutes at small forward, though? His best position might be power forward in the NBA.

Knox doesn’t turn 19 until August. He’s one of the youngest players in the draft.

3. Denver uses its pick to try and land a big fish

The Nuggets’ front office isn’t afraid to take big swings. Last summer, president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said on draft night Denver was on the “1-yard line” of completing a trade that fell through. Connelly didn’t name names, but several reports indicated that the Nuggets were interested in trading Gary Harris and the No. 13 overall pick in a three-team deal that would’ve netted them Kevin Love.

Is it possible Denver once again uses its first-round to go after a big name?

The Washington Wizards are one team in need of a shakeup. Star point guard John Wall said as much at his exit interview. The Nuggets could make a run at Otto Porter, one of the league’s best two-way small forwards, using their pick, Chandler (if he opts in or via sign and trade), Kenneth Faried and a bench guy who’s still on a rookie deal.

Kawhi Leonard could also be on the trading block. The relationship between Leonard and the Spurs deteriorated this season due to disagreement about his quadriceps injury, and if it can’t be repaired, The Claw could be headed elsewhere. There’s immense risk in trading for Leonard. He appeared in nine games in 2017-18, and he only has one season left on his deal. The Nuggets would have to include one of Murray, Harris or Jokic to get him. Would they be willing to part with one of their foundational pieces for a guy who could leave after one season? That feels a little too risky.

There aren’t many players out there I’d include Jokic, Murray or Harris in a trade for. The Nuggets have three 23-and-under studs worth building around. That doesn’t happen very often. Denver’s front office must do everything it can to highlight those guy’s strength and mask their weaknesses going forward.