The Denver Nuggets were seemingly finished selecting players in the 2022 NBA Draft after selecting two players in the first round. Then, out of nowhere, the Nuggets decided to acquire a second round pick to draft Ismael Kamagate, a center from France.

The Nuggets are sending out a 2024 second round pick to acquire Kamagate, according to Mike Singer of the Denver Post.

Ismael Kamagate averaged 27.1 minutes, 11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game in the French LNB Pro A league for Paris. His film was very impressive, and he was voted the best defender of the LNB Pro A league for his contributions as a rim protector. Kamagate was an athletic, above-the-rim center on both ends the floor, and he showed some good shooting touch on his jump shot out to mid-range.

Kamagate projects to be a backup center candidate behind Nikola Jokić, but there’s also a possibility that Kamagate can play next to Jokić down the line in two-big lineups. His mobility is pretty good for his size, and he reads the floor pretty well having played for his  professional team in Europe. There are definitely reasons to like this pick for the Nuggets.

It appears that Kamagate won’t come to Denver immediately though. According to Harrison Wind of DNVR, the Nuggets are planning to stash Kamagate.

Whatever the case, Kamagate appears to be a player that can help the Nuggets in the future. It doesn’t seem like the Nuggets will get that help immediately though.