Now that the NBA draft lottery has concluded and the Cleveland Cavaliers will select No. 1 overall, the complete draft order is set. As a result, SB Nation has released its first 2011 NBA Mock Draft. Down at No. 22, the Denver Nuggets select Kansas Jayhawks shooting guard Josh Selby:
22. Denver Nuggets: Josh Selby, SG, Kansas
If J.R. Smith really leaves the Nuggets, George Karl is going to miss having a "difficult" two-guard gunner. Enter Selby.
Selby missed the first nine games of the season due to an NCAA rules violation suspension and then scored in double-digits in nine of 14 games. At that point, he missed three games to injury and lost his scoring touch over the rest of the season. Is he the kind of player who should have returned to school to improve his stock after a second year in college?
One player the Nuggets would likely wish they could have but won't be in a position to draft is Colorado Buffaloes guard Alec Burks. In this mock, Burks goes where he's placed in several other mock drafts: No. 10 to the Milwaukee Bucks. Burks' projection is around picks 10-14.
If the Nuggets want to look at another position, maybe in the front court, Brazilian Lucas Nogueira (No. 24 to the Thunder in this mock) could be a viable selection. If the Nuggets are able to retain fellow countryman Nene, there could be a strong combo up front.
The NBA Draft takes place on June 23.