Nuggets Draft Brazile
Nuggets Acquire Arkansas Forward Trevon Brazile at No. 35 After Trading Down With Spurs
Key Points
His pre-draft measurements highlighted a lengthy frame: 6'9.5" barefoot, a 7'3.75" wingspan, 9'1" standing reach, about 225 pounds, with a 9" hand length and a 10 1/4" hand width, underscoring his multi-positional upside.
He posted a remarkable, multi-faceted stat line last season: the only Division I player to have over 50 assists, 50 blocks and 50 steals, along with 53 dunks and more than 40 threes.
Brazile tore his ACL during his sophomore year, an injury that slowed his development before he emerged under John Calipari at Arkansas.
The selection marked the Nuggets’ first draft pick under new co-general managers Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace, who moved into that role in 2025 and traded down to No. 35 in this deal with the Spurs.
The Denver Nuggets traded down nine spots on draft night and came away with Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile at No. 35, sending the 26th pick to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for the 35th selection plus two future second-rounders, according to ESPN. Brazile, a 6-foot-10, 225-pound forward with a 7'3.75" wingspan, gives Denver a long, switchable big who can protect the rim and shoot from three.
The pick marks the first draft move by Denver's new co-general managers Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace, who took over in 2025 after the front office fired coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth, The Denver Post reported. Brazile also made a slice of regional history — he is the first player from a Springfield, Missouri high school drafted into the NBA since 1985.
Denver Trades Down but Lands Three Total Assets
The Nuggets were on the clock at No. 26 when they struck a deal with San Antonio. They sent that first-round pick to the Spurs and received No. 35, a 2028 second-rounder via Minnesota, and a 2031 second-rounder via Sacramento, according to Hoops Rumors. San Antonio used the 26th pick to select UConn center Tarris Reed Jr.
The trade was a financial move as much as a personnel one. Denver is bumping up against the NBA's second apron — the $222 million payroll threshold — where penalties get steep, Sports Illustrated reported. Taking a second-round pick instead of a first-round rookie contract saves real money while still adding a player with upside.
Brazile Posted a Stat Line No One Else in College Had
Last season at Arkansas, Brazile averaged 13.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. But the raw numbers only tell part of the story. He was the only Division I player to record more than 50 assists, 50 blocks, and 50 steals in the same season, according to NWA Online. He also threw down 53 dunks and hit 45 three-pointers at a 34.1% clip.
His pre-draft measurements backed up the film. At the NBA Combine, Brazile checked in at 6'9.5" barefoot with a 7'3.75" wingspan, a 9'1" standing reach, and a 41.5-inch max vertical leap, per On3. His hand width measured 10.25 inches — an unusually large number that helps him control the ball and finish above defenders.
An ACL Tear and Two Schools Shaped His Path to the Second Round
Brazile started his college career at Missouri, then transferred to Arkansas. During his sophomore year, he tore his ACL — an injury that cost him significant development time, The Gazette reported. He redshirted, recovered, and eventually landed in John Calipari's system in Fayetteville. By his fifth year, he was one of the most productive forwards in the SEC.
Calipari said Brazile was his 65th career NBA draft pick. The fact that two Arkansas players — Brazile at No. 35 and guard Meleek Thomas at No. 34 to Cleveland — went back-to-back in the second round reflects well on the program. Still, Brazile's age — he turns 24 this year — and his injury history pushed him out of first-round range, per 247Sports.
Brazile Fills a Specific Gap Around Nikola Jokić
Denver struggled to find reliable frontcourt depth in the 2025 playoffs. Brazile's blend of shot-blocking and three-point shooting lets the Nuggets keep a "five-out" look — all five players near or beyond the arc — even when Jokić rests. Brazile told reporters before the draft that he can "guard all five positions on the floor," giving Tenzer and Wallace a versatile chess piece off the bench.
Sports Illustrated gave the pick a B+ grade, calling Brazile a "freak of nature" in terms of physical tools. Analysts at DNVR noted the trade-down was smart in theory but flagged that Denver has had a mixed record developing second-round picks. The results will depend heavily on how quickly Brazile can shake off any remaining rust from his ACL recovery and earn playing time behind a veteran frontcourt.
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