Henry Ellenson, Marquette

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snIfYj4RLcQ

Age: 19 years old     Size: 6’11, 242 pounds

Last Season’s Stats: 19 points; 9.9 rebounds; 1.8 assists per game

Percentages: 44.6% from the field; 28.8% from three-point; 74.9% from the free throw line

Henry Ellenson is now the only player to individually workout for the Denver Nuggets. He brings with him the ability to stretch the floor out to the three-point line and has solid court vision. He plays with an extremely high IQ and has shown a bit more athletic ability and shooting touch in recent workouts than he was thought to have. Having a plethora of versatility in his game is what has made him such an attractive prospect. But his big issue is his lack of explosion. He is being slotted to go anywhere from six to 15 in the NBA Draft.

At first I found it confusing why they would bring in Ellenson for an individual workout, but if he has been testing well when it comes to his lateral quickness and the Nuggets think they have a 6-foot-11 stretch four on their hands who can switch on the perimeter defensively, then how could you not pair him with Mudiay and Jokic? Ellenson has all the traits to be a modern-day power forward and even believes that he is more suited to play that way himself.

My colleague, Aniello Piro, had obtained a great quote from Ellenson when he was asked if he sees himself as a power forward or center in the NBA. He responded:

“I think I can play both. I think the way the game is going, at the four spot, they like someone versatile and that fits me well. I do see my self as a forward at the next level.”

Being able to move fluidly with or without the ball, take the ball up the court, or pass the ball ahead in transition is an extremely important skill in this day in the NBA. Being able to have your power forward AND center play this way has become a staple of what make the Golden State Warriors who they are. That type of versatility and ability to push the ball creates mismatches all over the court and allows the Nuggets to take advantage of wherever the best mismatch is at.

For all the times that Malone has preached “turning defense into offense,” there is truly no better way to run off of defensive rebounds than to have anyone on the court able to pass the ball ahead. Matching Ellenson with this Nuggets roster makes more sense then initially thought.