predraft workout

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When Kenneth Faried worked out for the Nuggets in advance of the 2011 NBA Draft, he impressed Denver’s coaches, executives and scouts with his energy and athleticism.

His predraft workout, highlighted by offensive rebounds, high-flying dunks and coast-to-coast conversions, foreshadowed things to come after the Nuggets took Faried with the 22nd overall pick.

Coming off a season in which he averaged a career-high 13.7 points and 8.6 rebounds, Faried is entrenched as Denver’s starting power forward – something few NBA teams saw coming when they passed him up three years ago.

A year later, the Nuggets found value again when they selected 19-year-old Evan Fournier with the 20th overall selection. Fournier enjoyed a good workout in Denver, flashing playmaking and perimeter shooting skills while emulating his favorite player at the time – Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs.

Fournier didn’t play much as a rookie, but he developed into a solid rotation player in 2013-14, averaging 8.4 points and finishing third on the team with 89 3-pointers. He scored a career-high 27 points against Sacramento on Feb. 23.

After drafting Fournier, the Nuggets still had a second-round pick (38th overall), which they used to take Quincy Miller, who left Baylor after being named the 2011-12 Big 12 Freshman of the Year.

During his workout at Pepsi Center, Miller showed the ability to rebound, finish near the rim and knock down perimeter jumpers.

He appeared in just seven games while paying his dues as a rookie, but he took advantage of additional minutes last season, averaging 4.9 points and 15.2 minutes. Miller posted his first career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds against Orlando on Jan. 11.

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Faried, Fournier, Miller showed glimpses of future in Nuggets predraft workouts

As part of their preparation for the 2014 NBA Draft, the Denver Nuggets have held four predraft workouts featuring 18 players.

The Nuggets also have evaluated and interviewed dozens of prospects at predraft combines in Chicago and Los Angeles.

Nuggets general manager/vice president of basketball operations Tim Connelly and his staff will put their research to use during the NBA Draft on June 26. Denver has the No. 11 overall pick, as well as two second-round selections (41 and 56).

Here is a list of the prospects who worked out in Denver and links to their draft profiles:

Rodney Hood, Duke (6-8 / 215 / Sophomore / Guard/Forward)

Gary Harris, Michigan State (6-4 / 205 / Sophomore / Guard)

Jabari Brown, Missouri (6-4 / 215 / Junior / Guard)

Jerrelle Benimon, Towson ((6-8 / 245 / Senior / Forward)

Brandon Jefferson, Metro State (5-9 / 170) / Senior / Guard)

Nick Johnson, Arizona (6-3 / 200 / Junior / Guard)

Isaiah Sykes, Central Florida (6-5 / 210 / Senior / Guard)

Tarik Black, Kansas (6-8 / 255 / Senior / Forward)

Tyler Ennis, Syracuse (6-2 / 180 / Freshman / Guard)

Zach LaVine, UCLA (6-5 / 180 / Freshman / Guard)

Casey Prather, Florida (6-5 / 200 / Senior / Forward)

James Young, Kentucky (6-7 / 200 / Freshman / Guard/Forward)

Isaiah Armwood, George Washington (6-9 / 210 / Junior / Forward)

Davion Berry, Weber State (6-4 / 185 / Senior / Guard)

Roscoe Smith, UNLV (6-8 / 215 / Junior / Forward)

Chris Udofia, Denver (6-6 / 200 / Senior / Forward)

Trevor Wages, Colorado Mines (6-9 / 235 / Senior / Forward)

Scottie Wilbekin, Florida (6-3 / 235 / Senior / Guard)

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A list of draft prospects who have worked out in Denver

In his final year at Clemson, K.J. McDaniels was basketball’s version of a five-tool player, leading the Tigers in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots, steals and 3-pointers.

After his working out for the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, he also mentioned his intangibles.

“I feel I’m an energetic player,” McDaniels said. “I can come off the bench or start and bring the defensive intensity to the team and bring a lot of excitement as well.”

McDaniels, 6-6, 200, was named the 2013-14 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and he has impressed scouts with his athleticism and ability to defend multiple positions with his length and quickness. He currently is projected as a late-first round to early second round pick.

“I’m excited. It’s a blessing to be in this position,” he said. “I’m just going to keep working hard. Wherever I get picked, I’m going to go in and play my hardest.”

The Nuggets have the 11th overall pick in the June 26 NBA Draft, as well as two second-round selections (41 and 56).

McDaniels and Delaware guard Davon Usher were the latest prospects to be put through the paces by the Nuggets at Pepsi Center.

Overall, the Nuggets have now held workouts featuring 20 players.

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Versatile K.J. McDaniels among latest prospects to workout for Nuggets

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Predraft Workout – June 19, 2014

Two high-scoring wings are scheduled to work out for the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on Thursday.

The Nuggets plan to evaluate K.J. McDaniels of Clemson and Davon Usher of Delaware as they continue preparations for the 2014 NBA Draft on June 26.

McDaniels, 6-6, 200, averaged 17.1 points and 7.1 rebounds as a junior last season. He led the Tigers in scoring, rebounding, blocks, steals and 3-pointers en route to an All-ACC First Team selection.

Usher, 6-6, 200, led the Colonial Athletic Conference in scoring (19.4 ppg) and averaged 6.1 rebounds as a senior in 2013-14. Before transferring to Delaware, he led the Southwest Athletic Conference in scoring as a junior at Mississippi Valley State.

The Nuggets hold the 11th overall pick in next week’s draft, as well as two second-round selections (Nos. 41 and 56).

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McDaniels, Usher set to work out Thursday at Pepsi Center

During his four years at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Trevor Wages majored in civil engineering.

“I specialized in rebounding,” he adds with a smile.

With his college degree in hand, Wages is embarking upon a professional basketball career after leading Mines in scoring (13.7 ppg) and rebounding (9.5 rpg) as a senior in 2013-14.

Wages, 22, was among six players who worked out for the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on Monday. The session came after a fitful night’s sleep.

“I attempted to go to bed at 9,” he said. “I was excited, going through my head what I wanted to do and visualizing what I wanted to do.”

The 6-foot-9, 235-pound big man battled some early nerves as he went up against Division I prospects Isaiah Armwood (George Washington), Davion Berry (Weber State), Roscoe Smith (UNLV), Chris Udofia (Denver) and Scottie Wilbekin (Florida).

“I definitely could’ve done better,” Wages said, “but it’s the first time going out there doing something like this.

“It’s a whole other level and pace. The further along you go, it becomes more natural. Hopefully next time I do it, it will come even more natural and I’ll be comfortable right at the beginning.”

While at Mines, Wages said he prided himself on outworking the opposition with hustle and physical play. He stuck with that philosophy on Monday.

“My mission out here was to prove I can play with even stronger, even taller, even more athletic guys,” he said. “I tried to prove that from the beginning by working hard. The scoring will come as I get better, but I can always control how hard I work.”

With the June 26 NBA Draft approaching, the Chatfield High School graduate hopes to receive more invitations to work out for more teams. If not, he already has an offer to play overseas in Austria.

A career in civil engineering can wait. Wages is still specializing on the hardwood.

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Littleton native Trevor Wages works out for Denver Nuggets

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Predraft Workout – June 16, 2014

How do you think your college experience has prepared you for the NBA?

That’s actually a really good question. I’d have to say playing through adversity definitely prepares you for these situations. You go into somebody else’s gym or you get down a lot during a game, and your coach tells you to keep fighting, keep on playing, we can fight back, and people tend not to believe that. People tend to give up. But when you go through situations where you actually fight back, it prepares you to come out here and work as hard as you can and still be able to push yourself to take it to the next level.

What do you do to prepare for workouts like this one?

I’m sleeping. I’m kicking my feet up as much as possible. We have to be energized when we come into the gym at different facilities around the country to perform.

I think I did pretty good today. I had a good showing, and I’m satisfied with what I came out here and did.

What’s it like being the ‘old man’ in the group?

I’m still young! [Laughs] It’s pretty cool. I can give knowledge. I accept that tag because I’m not ‘old’ in the bigger scheme of things, but if I’m blessed enough to make it to this level, guys I’ll be playing with will definitely be older than me. Coming out here right now, I’m getting used to being the elder statesman so I can spread as much knowledge and help guys get better.

I love the altitude; it makes it so easy to run up and down the court. [Laughs] That was sarcasm, by the way. I like the staff. They seem like really cool people. It was a healthy conversation.

Aaron Rodgers has contacted you lately about possibly playing football. Is there a possibility that you could be a two-sport athlete?

Hypothetically speaking, even if basketball and football didn’t run at the same time, think about the grind that’s on the body. You’re talking about the NBA, which is 82 games not including playoffs, and the NFL, which is 16 weeks of heart, grit and grind. So, I know I have a nice build, but I don’t think anybody – unless you’re Superman – can withstand that. I don’t think it’s possible. I’ve been looking into it because when you’re presented something like that, you can’t just turn it down. It’s a blessing. So I’ve talking to Aaron Rodgers a little bit. But I’m in Denver, not Green Bay. I want to be a basketball player. That’s my passion. I’m not going to give up on it now.

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Tarik Black Q&A

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