Nuggets snag Gonzaga sniper Julian Strawther with No. 29 pick of NBA draft

The Denver Nuggets have a type.

Under Nuggets GM Calvin Booth, that much is obvious.

The Nuggets drafted Gonzaga wing Julian Strawther with the No. 29 pick in Thursday’s NBA draft, underscoring Denver’s commitment to positional size. At No. 32, Denver picked Penn State senior Jalen Pickett, a versatile, playmaking guard. At No. 37, the Nuggets added Clemson forward Hunter Tyson.

Before the night was over, the Nuggets added size, perimeter shooting, playmaking, and depth.

The picks were the result of recent trades with Indiana and Oklahoma City and the transactions weren’t finalized as of Thursday night.

Strawther, a 6-foot-7 junior, adds another versatile piece to Denver’s depth chart. At Gonzaga, particularly this season, Strawther flashed an elite ability to shoot from distance. With a quick release and deep range, Strawther provides what every team is looking for: shooting.

He was among the highest prospects on Denver’s draft board, a league source told The Denver Post.

This season, he made nearly 41% of his 5.3 3-point tries per game. In each of his three seasons, his percentages improved. Strawther averaged 15.2 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Bulldogs this season.

Booth is always hunting for wings. In his first draft last season, he took Christian Braun and Peyton Watson, two forwards with excellent positional size.

In Strawther, he found size and shooting.

With Strawther, the Nuggets found a big playmaker to potentially aid the second unit. The reserves could look significantly different next season depending on how Bruce Brown handles his free agent decision. The Nuggets would love if he returned, but they can’t guarantee it will happen.

In Pickett, Booth, a Penn State alum, selected a prospect who can do a little bit of everything. He can score (17.7 points per game last season), rebound (7.4 boards), and facilitate (6.6 assists). He also plays bigger than his 6-foot-4 frame would suggest. Pickett thrives in the paint and is more than comfortable operating with his back to the basket. That includes scoring from inside or distributing.

Pickett has an extremely high basketball IQ and could conceivably help grease Denver’s offense off the bench. As a senior, he’ll have more experience to aid Denver’s championship roster.

Tyson adds even more 3-point shooting off Denver’s bench. The senior shot over 40% from 3-point range this season.

Thursday’s early picks seemed to hedge in the event Brown left in free agency.