The Denver Nuggets selected Dayton Center DaRon Holmes II with the 22nd pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. To move up to this spot, the Nuggets sent the Phoenix Suns picks no. 28, no. 56 and two future second-round picks.
The Nuggets have arguably the best player in the NBA in Nikola Jokic, but they have yet to find a formidable backup to him. By selecting Holmes, Denver made it clear they're trying to optimize and improve the offense when Jokic is resting on the bench.
Grade for Nuggets' Daron Holmes II selection in 2024 NBA Draft: B+
Holmes used to do most of his best work in the paint and near the rim but has recently become a bit more comfortable with his mid-range and three-point shooting. Should he become even more comfortable, he could develop into a legitimate floor spacer.
The 6'10” big man is also a serious lob threat. Holmes' new teammate Aaron Gordon is also a menace when it comes to dunks and alley-oops, so this has the potential to be a fun pairing. Also offensively, Holmes is a strong finisher around the basket. One of the Nuggets' biggest weaknesses in the 2024 NBA playoffs was finishing in the paint. The addition of Holmes can provide a huge boost in that department. He also has the size and athleticism to snag offensive rebounds and just straight-up dominate the boards.
Defensively, Holmes' length and timing make him a formidable presence in the paint. He also has quite a knack for blocking shots. In college Holmes was praised for his ability to protect the rim and guard multiple positions. With Kentavious Caldwell-Pope potentially leaving in free agency, the Nuggets will look for defensive help from Holmes.
As far as weaknesses go, Holmes has some room for improvement in the strength department. This is easily fixable by spending some time in the weight room. Consistency is also an area Holmes needs to show improvement in.
Regardless, Holmes is landing in an incredibly good situation in Denver. The Nuggets are contenders and don't have extreme expectations for a rookie to come in and fix a glaring hole. Instead, they're looking for players to further complement their stars like Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Plus, Holmes has a great opportunity to develop into the type of player the Nuggets wanted Zeke Nnaji to be.
Why the Nuggets drafted DaRon Holmes II
After the 2024 NBA Draft wrapped up, Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth took time to discuss his recent selection. According to Booth, Holmes progressed as a prospect in front of their eyes.
“He’s been a pretty prominent prospect for the last couple of years but I think the jump he took in skill, making the three-point shot took him to a different level as a prospect,” said Booth. “And I think I just like guys that carry the load for a team. They won a lot.”
Reportedly the Nuggets heard whisperings that Holmes was attracting serious attention from teams ahead of them. They felt like they had to pull the trigger to move up in the draft and secure their man.
At Dayton, Holmes had a large load to carry. But now that he's joining a rather loaded NBA team, his load might lighten and he could succeed even more.
“I think he had to carry a heavy load for that team and had to worry about getting in foul trouble,” Booth said about Dayton's college experience. “So there would be times when you watch him live or on tape where you’re like, ‘Can you really guard?’ But I expect that to be better at this level since he has less responsibility. And I think offensively just as somebody that helps, he can pass, he can shoot, he can catch in tight spaces and make plays and make little touch shots that Joker makes so he just has a lot of game.”
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