13. Denver Nuggets: Ike Anigbogu, UCLA Bruins
Ultimate Upside Comparison: Andre Drummond
Safe Upside Comparison: Bismack Biyombo
Position: Center
Age: 18 (10/22/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’9.75″, 252 pounds, 7’6.25″
2016-17 Slash Line: .564/.000/.535
2016-17 Season Averages: 13.0 MPG, 4.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.4 ORPG, 1.2 BPG
The Denver Nuggets have a superstar on the rise in power forward Nikola Jokic and a deep crop of guards. The voids in Denver can be found at small forward and center, where the team needs a combination of offensive creativity and defensive consistency.
Replacing Danilo Gallinari is a pressing need, but the Nuggets need to create a solid foundation on defense, and that makes Ike Anigbogu the pick.
Anigbogu’s ultimate upside comparison is Andre Drummond, to whom he shares a number of compelling similarities. Anigbogu nearly matches Drummond’s monstrous wingspan, and has a longer standing reach with a similarly powerful frame.
Perhaps most importantly, Anigbogu averaged 14.5 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per 40 minutes in 2016-17—a sign of the nightly double-double machine he’s capable of becoming.
A safer comparison would be Bismack Biyombo, who earned a lucrative contract with his situational defense and rebounding. Biyombo is more fleet of foot, but Anigbogu has a wider frame that should fill out over time.
If Michael Malone coaches Anigbogu properly, he could find the perfect interior complement to Jokic. The New York Knicks don’t need a big man, but Anigbogu may pique Phil Jackson’s interest.