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2015 NBA Draft: 5 Players the Denver Nuggets Should Target

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Chris Humphreys- USA Today Sports

NBA Draft: 5 Players the Denver Nuggets Should Target

Will Barton
Chris Humphreys- USA Today Sports

The Denver Nuggets have hit rock bottom and they know it. By trading away quality starters in Timofey Mozgov and Arron Afflalo, the Nuggets are making a conscious effort to bottom out in order to receive a quality pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. They have succeeded in this goal thus far, as they are the third worst team in the West with a record of 20-37. Here are five players the Nuggets should target for the 2015 NBA Draft.

5. Willie Cauley-Stein

Willie Cauley Stein
Randy Sartin- USA Today Sports

5. Willie Cauley-Stein

Willie Cauley Stein
Randy Sartin- USA Today Sports

The trade of Timofey Mozgov has left the Nuggets extremely weak in their frontcourt rotation. Willie Cauley-Stein would be a perfect young addition at center. He is averaging 9.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.4 steals per game with the Wildcats this season. Cauley-Stein is a defensive juggernaut, whereas his offensive abilities would need a little more fine-tuning.

4. Mario Hezonja

Mario Hezonja
Jack Guez- USA Today Sports

4. Mario Hezonja

Mario Hezonja
Jack Guez- USA Today Sports

Although the Nuggets are moderately deep at the guard position with Ty Lawson, Jameer Nelson and Randy Foye in town, Mario Hezonja is by far one of the best guards coming out of the draft, and the Nuggets would be crazy to pass up on the Spaniard. Hezonja is averaging 9.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting a blistering 57 percent from the field and 43 percent from beyond the arc.

3. Justise Winslow

Justise Winslow
Geoff Burke- USA Today Sports

3. Justise Winslow

Justise Winslow
Geoff Burke- USA Today Sports

Justise Winslow is an extremely athletic small forward who can play quality minutes for a competitive team. This is exactly what the Nuggets need at their small forward position, especially with Danilo Gallinari consistently injured. Winslow is averaging 28.0 minutes this season with Duke. He is putting up 12.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 46 percent from the field and 38 percent from the arc.

2. Stanley Johnson

Stanley Johnson
Joe Nicholson- USA Today Sports

2. Stanley Johnson

Stanley Johnson
Joe Nicholson- USA Today Sports

Stanley Johnson has been a pivotal force for the Arizona Wildcats (25-3) this season, averaging 14.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Johnson is the exact type of athletic (6-foot-7, 245 pounds) dominant small forward the Nuggets need in the starting lineup. Johnson could go pretty early in the draft considering the position he plays, but if he falls into the Nuggets' lap, Denver has to go for him.

1. Myles Turner

Myles Turner
Brendan Maloney- USA Today Sports

1. Myles Turner

Myles Turner
Brendan Maloney- USA Today Sports

Myles Turner is arguably one of the top defensive centers at the college level, averaging over 2.6 blocks per game for the Texas Longhorns this season. What team in the NBA couldn’t use a defensive-minded center to guard the rim? Turner also isn't half bad on the offensive end, averaging 11.2 points on 46 percent shooting from the field and 32 percent from beyond the arc.

Jared Doyle is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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