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Nuggets select Doug McDermott with the No. 11 pick in 2014 NBA Draft

Brad Penner / USA Today Sports

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The Denver Nuggets selected Creighton forward Doug McDermott with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft on Thursday night.

How exactly does the fifth all-time leading scorer in Division I basketball go this low? Such is life in the 2014 NBA Draft, where the country's leading scorer can slip to No. 11 and nobody blinks an eye.

Rest assured, however, McDermott can score, and shouldn't have a great deal of trouble doing so at the next level. He's a heady player, and one who graded out as a better athlete than expected at the combine, traits that should help him evolve beyond "elite spot-up shooter," not that there would be anything wrong with that.

He won't be able to contribute much on defense, regardless of which forward spot he mans, and his upside is considered to be lower than the names that have gone ahead of him, but that doesn't mean the Nuggets haven't found a valuable piece here.

in McDermott, the Nuggets net themselves a go-to scorer on the perimeter. He will be able to function offensively both as a small-forward or power forward, but will struggle if put into the post. Although Denver head coach Brian Shaw has famously ached for a post-player to anchor his offense, McDermott's offensive talents are such that he will be able to contribute regardless.

You can read more about McDermott in our scouting report.

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