2017 NBA Draft: Iowa State’s Monte Morris drafted by Denver Nuggets
By Doug Winkey
The 2017 NBA Draft is done. The second round saw Iowa State star Monte Morris go to the Denver Nuggets. What will his impact be like as a rookie?
Now that the draft is over it is time to review what transpired. The first round went much as expected, with potential stars finding their new homes for the next few years. As exciting as it is to evaluate landing spots for future household names, the second round is filled with far more tantalizing selections. Denver used the draft’s 51st pick to select the safest point guard in Monte Morris from Iowa State.
A quick refresher on the former Cyclone star. Morris is listed at 6’3″, 175 lbs. That is a bit light to defend opposing point guards, but in college, Morris used intelligent positioning on defense to compensate for a lack of physical stature. He did finish his career as the all-time leader in steals at Iowa State, so he clearly has a nose for the ball. While he also isn’t a bruiser driving at the hoop, Morris was outstanding in the pick-and-roll in college in finding the open cutter or hitting a shot from outside; his 38% mark from deep is valuable asset in the current era of NBA offenses.
As valuable as his defensive positioning and shooting can be, Morris’ likely role is as a careful point guard who doesn’t make mistakes. His assist-to-turnover ratio was an incredible 5.2 in 2016-2017. His career average of 4.65 is equally impressive considering he averaged over 33 minutes per game in college. He’ll run Denver’s second-unit on offense and keep games close when starters rest.
The Nuggets do have two point guards on roster, but Jameer Nelson is 35 and could get moved this summer. Morris would be a great backup behind former lottery pick Emmanuel Mudiay. The team also has several improving running mates on the perimeter in Gary Harris and Jamal Murray. They also have great interior targets in Danilo Gallinari, Nikola Jokoc and Wilson Chandler.
Next: Best fits for former Cyclones
Monte Morris will be in a great situation playing for a team that very nearly made the playoffs this season. Head Coach Michael Malone has been a long-time assistant in the NBA and is molding the Nuggets into a playoff contender. Morris could go a long way towards that goal with his experience and steady excellence.