Denver Nuggets: 5 options for pick No. 49 in 2017 NBA Draft

Feb 21, 2017; Iowa City, IA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers center Thomas Bryant (31) goes to the basket against Iowa Hawkeyes forward Tyler Cook (5) during the second half at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes won 96-90 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Nuggets have two second round picks in the 2017 NBA Draft. These are five options that could still be available at pick No. 49.

The Denver Nuggets will draft inside the top-20 for the sixth time since 2014, but the draft won't end for them after the 13th pick. Denver has two second round selections, picks no. 49 and 51.

It's rare to find impactful players this late in the draft. Many casual NBA fans have tuned out by the time the final 20 names are called. But Denver fans know better after seeing their team draft a budding superstar in Nikola Jokic with the 41st overall pick back in 2014.

Denver isn't the only team to find gold late in the draft. Draymond Green will undoubtedly make an impact in this year's Finals, and some consider him a dark horse candidate for Finals MVP. But on 34 consecutive occasions in 2012, NBA front offices failed to see the value in the prospect out of Michigan State.

The Spurs are infamous for their ability to identify, draft and optimize the skill set of European prospects. Nothing gets Gregg Popovich excited like a second round Euro, and how can you blame him? He drafted future Hall-of-Famer Manu Ginobili with the 57th overall pick in 1999.

It's unlikely that any team will have such luck in the second round this year. But Denver has done well in the draft of late, and they'll get two chances at finding a diamond in the rough this time around.

There appears to be little consensus as to which prospect Denver should select with their first round pick. And as you might expect, the mock drafts vary even more this far down the list.

It's an arduous task, but after 2014, most Nuggets fans are eager to familiarize themselves with the second round talent, and gain some understanding of whom their squad might select. Let's run through the list of top options that could still be available.

5. Monte Morris, PG, Iowa State

In a draft filled with young studs boasting an abundance of upside, Morris brings something much different to the table. He's a rare four-year player, and he's entering the draft after one of the more successful four-year runs of any player in this draft class.

With Morris running the point, the Cyclones marched into the NCAA Tournament four consecutive times. He's a traditional point guard, in the sense that he brings more value in his playmaking and defensive ability than his scoring. According to Draft Express, he ran a pro-style offense at Iowa State, where he was one of the better pick-and-roll ball handlers in all of college basketball:

Denver already has a plethora of talented guards, and another point guard doesn't exactly plug any holes on this roster. But neither Emmanuel Mudiay nor Jamal Murray are traditional point guards. And neither is particularly adept as the ball handler in a pick-and-roll.

A backup ball handler that thrives in the pick-and-roll is a valuable piece to any squad, and one that may become a pressing need for Denver in the coming years. Morris would certainly fit that bill.

The knock on him is that as he approaches his 22nd birthday, he doesn't bring the same upside as the younger players in this class. He's had four years in college to show flashes of developing into something special, and he has yet to convince scouts that his ceiling is particularly high.

He's also limited athletically. Morris is 6'3″ and he's quick on his feet, having no trouble blowing past defenders at the collegiate level. But the NBA game is bigger, faster and stronger. He is quick, but not explosive, and he's only 175 pounds. He'll need to bulk up significantly to have any success in the interior.

Morris is a safe pick with a clearly defined ceiling. Denver could have a use for him, but these picks might be better served by taking a swing at a player with more risk and higher upside.

4. Dwayne Bacon, SF, FSU

Lost in the shadow of Florida State's other wing prospect, Jonathan Isaac, is Dwayne Bacon. A sophomore, this is Bacon's second time declaring for the draft.

He tested the waters after his freshman season, but wisely decided to come back for another go. A full season playing alongside Isaac helped bring the best out in him, and this time he enters the draft with full confidence that his name will be called.

His teammate Isaac is well described as gangly, but he possesses control of his outrageous length, and he his explosive to boot. Bacon profiles much differently, bringing strength and a stout, mature frame to the table. He is about 6'6″, and he weighed in at 222 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine.

He's not the fastest forward in this class, but he has the strength and size required to play the wing and he brings some solid leaping ability to the table with a no step vertical north of 30 inches. He can finish around the rim.

Bacon would maximize his value as a prospect if he embraced his defensive potential. He has the height, weight and strength to match up with most wings. If he were to bring a defensive tenacity, and an opportunistic scoring mentality, he could become a useful piece.

But he is not the type of player that looks ready to embrace that role at the next level. Defensive engagement isn't exactly Bacon's calling guard, and his scoring style is not one that you would describe as efficient.

Despite having limited success as an outside shooter, Bacon is far from gun shy. He lets it rip early and often, and that's a frustrating quality to have in most players, save a few exceptions like J.R. Smith. Smith is not a realistic comparison for Bacon, and his probable inability to play within his limits make him a less than ideal choice.

But he already has NBA size, and his confidence in his scoring ability doesn't have to be viewed as a negative if he learns to pick his shots better. He's worth considering at pick No. 49, but not the top choice out of the available talent, especially if the Nuggets draft a wing like OG Anunoby at 13.

3. Devin Robinson, SF/PF, Florida

If you like dunking, then you like Devin Robinson, the junior out of Florida. Robinson might not be the kind of guy that changes the trajectory of a franchise, but he gets the people on their feet with his ludicrous leaping ability.

The former Gator is 6'7″ without his shoes on, and he showed off his elite leaping at the NBA combine. According to Draft Express, his no step vertical is north of 35 inches, and his max vert of 41.5″ is just plain silly for someone of his height. Both of those marks were the third-best at the combine, and according to the guys at DE, that puts him in some elite company:

Devin Robinson isn't the next Vince Carter, but he is freak athlete. If nothing else, his game is entertaining enough to warrant a late selection. Denver has already constructed one of the more entertaining young rosters in the league, and the introduction of Robinson's athleticism is an appealing prospect.

Robinson is almost 6'8″ but weighs just about 200 pounds. He's probably best suited as a 3 in the NBA, though he can serve as a power forward in smaller lineups and possesses some touch as a shooter.

Again, Denver is likely to draft a wing with pick No. 13, and in that case the chances of selecting another one here grows slimmer. But Robinson could very well be available at 49, and Denver might be tempted by his high flying game.

2. Tyler Dorsey, SG, Oregon

Unless you're a draft guru, or a college basketball nut, you're probably not all that familiar with most of the names being tossed around this late in the draft. But with the 49th pick, Denver could draft a player that you've likely heard of.

Oregon's 2017 tournament run didn't end the way they hoped, but it featured some impressive play from one of their big names, as Tyler Dorsey elevated his game on college basketball's biggest stage.

More from Hoops Habit

He is coming off of a strong sophomore season in which he increased his scoring output while becoming more efficient. He shot over 40 percent from deep for the second consecutive year.

Dorsey's shooting should translate to the next level, where he likely won't assume much responsibility as a primary ball handler. The dude is a true scorer and a true shooting guard.

The problem is he doesn't necessarily have the build of an NBA 2-guard. At 6'4″ and just 183 pounds, his ability to play defense at the next level comes into question.

But Dorsey performed well at the highest level, scoring the eighth most points per game in the NCAA tournament. He averaged 23.8 points in 35.4 minutes per game, and he shot the ball incredibly well.

Only Dominique Hawkins of Kentucky played at least three games in the tournament and shot the three-ball at a better percentage than Dorsey. He averaged four makes a game on 6.6 attempts during his five-game run.

The frame is worrisome, and Dorsey's defense is a true question mark. Plus, Denver already has Gary Harris, Will Barton and Malik Beasley on the roster, so Dorsey wouldn't have any real path to actual minutes.

But there's always room for three-point shooting on an NBA roster, and Dorsey can light it up. Who knows? Dorsey is young, and he could fill the frame out and throw some pounds on as he matures. He might be the right choice at 49.

1. Thomas Bryant, C, Indiana

Bryant was a standout at Indiana in his freshman year, displaying a high motor and an impressive physical frame. After averaging just under 12 points a game and 5.8 rebounds per game his freshman year, Bryant decided to return to Indiana for another shot at a deep tournament run and a chance to improve his draft stock.

The former never happened for Indiana, but Bryant saw his game grow. He showed flashes of range in his freshman year, though he only shot 33.3 percent from deep on 0.4 attempts per game.

Clearly a priority for Bryant in the offseason, the three-point shooting improved greatly in his sophomore campaign. He brought his attempts per game up to 1.76, while improving his percentage to 38.3.

Bryant won't be drafted for his scoring ability, and he's far from the next transcendent offensive big. But having the ability to stretch the floor as a center has become important in the modern NBA, and Bryant's improvements in that area certainly increase his draft value.

The three-point production was impressive, but Bryant's numbers weren't exactly eye-popping. His value as a prospect lies in his work ethic, his motor and his elite physical tools. Julian Applebome of Draft Express explains:

Bryant has the tools to impact the game at the next level and that's why Draft Express expects him to be off the board long before the Nuggets draft. He's slotted at No. 35 in their mock draft, and they've speculated that he might even sneak into the first round. But again, there's a ton of variance in second round mocks.

The folks over at Tankathon seem to think he will fall the way to Denver at 49. That's a massive difference, and there's really no telling if he'll still be available. But he would be a great choice at 49 if he's still there.

The Nuggets likely have two priorities in this draft: find a wing and a backup for Jokic. Denver should be able to succeed in the former with the 13th pick, but the latter is a bit trickier.

Bryant is a big boy, and he's a true center despite his touch. It's not clear how viable he is as an option alongside Jokic. But he could be a serviceable backup for years to come. If Denver is able to land its wing in OG Anunoboy, they should strongly consider taking a flier on his former teammate at 49.