According to Mike Singer of the Denver Post, the Denver Nuggets are selecting Clemson forward Hunter Tyson with the 37th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Clemson F Hunter Tyson is strongly in play for Denver at No. 37, league source tells @denverpost.
— Mike Singer (@msinger) June 23, 2023
Tyson is 23 years old and played five years at Clemson, averaging 15.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in his final season for a Tigers roster, leading the entire ACC conference in total defensive rebounds. He stands at nearly 6’9″ and translates pretty clearly as an NBA power forward at the next level level, a floor spacer on the offensive end and rebounder on the defensive end. Tyson shot 40.5% from three-point range and 83.8% from the free throw line, showcasing good footwork and shooting touch at the college level. If the jumper translates to the NBA level, he automatically has an opportunity to make the Nuggets better as a bench forward.
The Nuggets have followed a pattern with their three draft selections, drafting high IQ, smart players with good instincts for ball movement and player movement. Tyson qualifies there and seems like a good flyer for Denver to consider. His ceiling isn’t as high as players ahead of him on the draft board, but he has an excellent chance to get the most out of his potential within Denver’s system. Bringing shooting and rebounding to the forward spots makes plenty of sense for a Nuggets roster that hasn’t had a ton of shooting in their frontcourt off the bench, and Tyson certainly brings both.
He’s not a great athlete and may struggle to guard at the NBA level, but the Nuggets can help him out there with their strength and conditioning program. As long as Tyson puts in the effort, there’s no reason why a player who led his entire conference in defensive rebounds can’t become a solid contributor on that end of the floor at the NBA level.
