THE 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place later this month, with the next crop of potential superstars set to join the world’s most prestigious basketball league.

With plenty of hype around the talent in the 2023 draft class, thanks to a French phenom locked in as the number-one pick and lots of depth later down the order, June 23 (AEST) will change the future of the league in a big way.

Rookie Me Central will be continuing the NBA Draft Team Preview series, taking a look at each participating side’s draft hand and some potential options at each selection. The next side on the agenda are the Denver Nuggets.

The draft is not the main focus for the Nuggets at the moment, as they are currently engaged in an enthralling battle in the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, with the series tied at one game apiece as it stands.

Having built one of the strongest rosters in the competition, Denver will be using the draft to top up at some of the positions that are slightly weaker on its list.

Denver Nuggets

Draft selections

40

Contracted players

Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter, Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown (player option), Christian Braun, Zeke Nnaji, Vlatko Cancar, Peyton Watson, Collin Gillespe (qualifying offer), Jack White (qualifying offer)

The Nuggets have crafted an extremely strong list that is full of superstars and excellent role players, as evidenced with their appearance in the NBA finals.

While their options may be more limited than others, the Nuggets will still be able to find quality at pick 40 given the depth of the 2023 draft class.

One way Denver could go is acquiring forward Jalen Wilson, who took his game to the next level over the past season. Having proven himself as a rebounder, finisher and solid mid-range shooter, Wilson showed an increased arsenal as a shot-maker during the 2022/23 fixture, and should he continue to work on this side of his game, he could be a viable option for Denver if still on the board.

Another player that may catch Denver’s attention could be Terrance Shannon, who also showed improvement in his shot-making. He could join the Nuggets as a three-and-D option, although his perimeter shooting may raise some questions. Regardless, he clearly worked on this over the last season, and should continue on an upwards trajectory as an offensive player, so Shannon could be worth a gamble at pick 40.

The Denver Nuggets could finish this season as NBA Champions, and their selection at the draft will be crucial in helping the team towards long-term success.