The Denver Nuggets executed a trade during Wednesday night’s NBA Draft with the Phoenix Suns, moving up to select center DaRon Holmes II.

The Nuggets flipped the 28th and 56th overall picks in this draft, along with two future second round picks, in order to move up to 22nd overall. Holmes was unlikely to fall to the Nuggets at 28 with several other contenders eyeing Holmes. General manager Calvin Booth decided to get aggressive to ensure that he would get his guy, and the Nuggets look to have gotten a good one.

Holmes is a great fit for the Nuggets, a team that already has Nikola Jokic but needs a dynamic big man behind him. The 6-foot-9 versatile big man averaged 20.4 points, 2.6 assists, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game in his junior season at Dayton, showcasing skills as a rim roller and a pick-and-pop option. Holmes shot 38.6% from 3-point range and looked the part of a confident big from beyond the arc.

On the defensive end, Holmes moves his feet well and can play in multiple defensive schemes at either power forward or center. He’s switchable enough to guard on the perimeter, and he’s athletic enough to protect the rim.

The Nuggets have struggled filling their backup center spot over the last several years behind Jokic. The offensive players that they tried to plug in weren’t good enough defensively, and the defensive players they added haven’t been able to handle the burdens offensively.

Holmes could be the best of both worlds and makes sense as a developmental option in the limited role behind Jokic. He also could play next to him in certain looks, and that’s an important aspect for a team like Denver drafting any backup center. Holmes won’t be limited to just backup center minutes at his peak.

The Nuggets gave up a lot of second round draft capital in order to move up six spots, which means they’re all the way in on Holmes. He’s not a project player, old enough to potentially play immediately. He’s not a low ceiling option either though, because any big man that can pick-and-pop AND defend the rim will have a role in the NBA.

Good work from Calvin Booth and the Denver Nuggets front office, kicking off this offseason with an immediate win.