Nuggets 2021 NBA mock draft tracker 3.0: What the national experts predict Denver will do

The NBA draught is acceptable to instrumentality spot astatine 6 p.m. MT Thursday (TV: ABC, ESPN), truthful what volition the Nuggets bash with the No. 26 wide pick?

A shooting defender to assistance capable the void near by the injured Jamal Murray? Another large antheral to alleviate immoderate accent from Nikola Jokic?

Denver Post bushed writer Mike Singer breaks down who Denver could prime by position. Take a look astatine his investigation here: point guards | shooting guards | small forwards | power forwards | centers.

Here’s a look astatine who nationalist draftniks are reasoning volition onshore successful Denver.

Yahoo Sports | Krysten Peek | Updated July 26

Sharife Cooper, G, Auburn

Mark Zaleski, The Associated Press

Auburn defender Sharife Cooper (2) plays against Vanderbilt during the archetypal fractional of an NCAA assemblage hoops crippled Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, successful Nashville, Tenn.

No investigation available. See the afloat mock draft.

Bleacher Report | Zach Buckley | Updated July 25

Ayo Dosunmu, G, Illinois

Rey Del Rio, Getty Images

Ayo Dosunmu (11) of the Illinois Fighting Illini handles the shot nether unit from Aaron Henry (0) of the Michigan State Spartans during the archetypal fractional astatine Breslin Center connected Feb. 23, 2021 successful East Lansing, Mich.

“Dosunmu doesn’t person a standout skill, but his do-it-all skills mightiness enactment successful a glue-guy role. In Denver, helium could assistance tally the discourtesy portion Jamal Murray works his mode backmost from a torn ACL and past displacement into a complementary relation focused connected finishing, defense, spot-up shooting and high-energy everything.” See the afloat mock draft.

CBS Sports | Kyle Boone | Updated July 26

Ayo Dosunmu, SG, Illinois

Nam Y. Huh, Associated Press file

Illinois defender Ayo Dosunmu shoots during the archetypal fractional of the team’s NCAA assemblage hoops crippled against Northwestern successful Evanston, Ill., successful this Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, record photo.

“Ayo Dosunmu came backmost to assemblage arsenic a inferior to amended arsenic a shooter and effort to pb Illinois to a title. He failed astatine the second but achieved the former, hitting 38.6% from 3-point scope (after it was 29.6% the twelvemonth prior) portion improving arsenic a passer and rebounder. Glue-guy imaginable present with him arsenic helium does a batch of things truly good but thing astatine an elite level. Someone who should instrumentality and find success.” See the afloat mock draft.

The Ringer | Kevin O’Connor | Updated July 27

Isaiah Jackson, F/C, Kentucky

Andy Lyons, Getty Images

Isaiah Jackson (23) of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates against the Louisville Cardinals astatine KFC YUM! Center connected Dec. 26, 2020 successful Louisville, Ky.

“League sources accidental the Nuggets are trying to determination up from the 26th prime into the apical 20, and utilizing young seat players oregon aboriginal picks arsenic lures. Denver has historically drafted for upside, truthful if the prime is made here, Jackson fits the squad illustration arsenic a bouncy large who could thrive if he’s fixed clip to amended his weaknesses.” See the afloat mock draft.

ESPN | Jonathan Givony | Updated July 27

Joshua Primo, SG, Alabama

Stacy Revere, Getty Images

Joshua Primo (11) of the Alabama Crimson Tide handles the shot against Donta Scott (24) of the Maryland Terrapins successful the 2nd fractional successful the 2nd circular crippled of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament astatine Bankers Life Fieldhouse connected March 22, 2021 successful Indianapolis.

“Adding extent connected the helping volition apt beryllium a precedence for the Nuggets, who are slated to beryllium without Jamal Murray for each oregon astir of adjacent play and volition spot respective rotation players participate escaped agency. Primo, the youngest subordinate successful the draft, mightiness beryllium a region from becoming a accordant contributor, but he’s helped himself with a beardown pre-draft process. Nuggets president of hoops operations Tim Connelly has ne'er been acrophobic to instrumentality a high-upside imaginable and beryllium diligent with his development, and Primo has everything NBA teams look for astatine his presumption agelong term.” See the afloat mock draught (subscription).

Fox Sports | Jason McIntyre | Updated July 25

Jaden Springer, G, Tennessee

Butch Dill, The Associated Press

Tennessee defender Jaden Springer (11) drives to the handbasket arsenic Auburn defender Allen Flanigan (22) defends during the 2nd fractional of an NCAA hoops crippled Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, successful Auburn, Ala. Auburn won 77-72.

“The Nuggets volition beryllium without Jamal Murray until aft the All-Star break, and fixed the information that guards Will Barton, Markus Howard and Austin Rivers are each escaped agents, they request to draught a shooting guard.” See the afloat mock draft.

CBS Sports | Colin Ward-Henninger | Updated July 27

Cameron Thomas, SG, LSU

Stacy Revere, Getty Images

Cameron Thomas (24) of the LSU Tigers moves the shot defended by Alejandro Vasquez (10) of the St. Bonaventure Bonnies successful the archetypal circular crippled of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament astatine Assembly Hall connected March 20, 2021 successful Bloomington, Ind.

“Talk astir a bucket-getter. Thomas has the game, and the confidence, to yet go a 20-point-per-game NBA scorer — helium conscionable needs to enactment connected his efficiency. The Nuggets, similar beauteous overmuch each team, are ever looking for seat players who tin make and enactment the shot successful the basket, truthful Thomas would beryllium a gem this precocious successful the draft. He tin besides assistance prime up the slack until Jamal Murray returns from his ACL surgery.” See the afloat mock draft.

Sports Illustrated | Jeremy Woo | Updated July 26

Cameron Thomas, SG, LSU

Tim Nwachukwu, Getty Images

Cameron Thomas (24) of the LSU Tigers shoots against the LSU Tigers successful the second-round crippled of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament astatine Lucas Oil Stadium connected March 22, 2021 successful Indianapolis.

“While Thomas’s inflexible, shoot-first attack has been a divisive taxable and a long-standing situation to evaluate, he’s inarguably 1 of the much consistent, accomplished scorers successful the draft. The questions present chiefly situation the translatability of his playstyle, and his wide disinterest successful defence and sharing the ball. But there’s immoderate thought that helium mightiness acceptable nicely arsenic an other scorer connected a squad with an established pecking order, and the Nuggets acceptable the criteria there. It volition autumn connected Thomas to go a much malleable subordinate successful the agelong run, but his accumulation is hard to knock, and he’ll person overmuch easier changeable opportunities coming his mode connected a bully team, successful theory. Denver has historically been contented to draught whomever falls to them, and Thomas would beryllium a bully worth play successful this scenario.” See the afloat mock draft.