Denver Nuggets 2006 Draft Preview

06.22.2006

(Basketball News) - Denver finished 44-38 and captured the Northwest Divison crown in the 2005-06 campaign. Even though the Nuggets were the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs, they did not have the home-court advantage and were eliminated in five games by the Los Angeles Clippers, who won 47 games during the regular season, in the opening round of the playoffs.

The Nuggets don’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft, and will select the best available player with the 49th overall selection.

Twenty-two-year-old Carmelo Anthony had his best season as a pro. The Syracuse product averaged a team-best 26.5 points and collected 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 80 contests. He is the building block of the franchise.

Center Marcus Camby averaged 12.8 points and team-best 11.9 rebounds in 56 games, while point guard Andre Miller played all 82 regular-season contests and dished out a club-high 8.2 assists per game.

Power forward Kenyon Martin was suspended by the team during the playoffs for for conduct detrimental to the team. Martin had issues with head coach George Karl. The Nuggets will most likely attempt to trade the former All-Star in the offseason.

Denver needs to tweak its roster. Anthony has raised his game to the next level, while Camby and Miller are two nice pieces to the puzzle. The draft will not help the Nuggets fill their voids.

Key Player(s): Carmelo Anthony (Forward), Earl Boykins (Guard), Marcus Camby (Center), Kenyon Martin (Forward), Andre Miller (Guard), Nene (Center/Forward), Ruben Patterson (Forward).

Team Needs: A big man, scoring in the low post and rebounding.

Draft picks: 2nd round (49th overall).

DEN

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