After making fans wait all through the first round only to trade back, the Denver Nuggets finally get their man as they select with the 35th pick in the draft: Trevon Brazile, the 6’9 combo forward from Arkansas.
So who is Brazile?
Trevon is a freak athlete at 6’9.5 barefoot with a wingspan of almost 7’4 and a 41″ vertical jump. He can fly, with transition dunks that amaze and helpside blocks that astound. He can also hit from behind the arc if you leave him open, and he has soft hands around the rims for lobs and finishes. He can also be a good perimeter defender using that wingspan and his quick feet to get in position and make life tough. As I said about him before the draft: “When he is playing hard and engaged, he looks like a first round talent who can spot up for 3 or kill you at the rim while hounding ball-handlers on the perimeter.”
He is 23 years old already, however, and he still hasn’t found the necessary motor to bring that explosion and game-changing play for the whole time he’s on the court. He only shoots 66% from the charity stripe and doesn’t have much of an in-between game, so if he’s not driving the hoop or taking open threes his creation bag is a little thin. He spent his freshman year at Missouri, the alma mater of both Michael Porter Jr. and Josh Kroenke, so Josh would obviously have some insight into him from early in his college career.
But Denver has been in dire need of some size and athleticism and they just got both in the same package. Brazile at his best absolutely looks the part of an NBA player who can make an impact at both ends of the floor. Whether he can grow his game in shorter bench stints early in his career is certainly going to be intriguing to watch – and the Nuggets finally have a drafted player to pour some interest and effort into themselves.
Welcome to the Nuggets, Trevon Brazile!
