On top of an injury-plagued 2025-26 season that ended in a disappointing first-round playoff exit, the Denver Nuggets find themselves in an awkward position heading into the 2026 NBA Draft. With the 26th overall pick on June 23, Denver sits outside the lottery and faces the familiar challenge of extracting real value from a late-first-round selection.
History shows the 26th pick is rarely a launchpad for superstars — recent examples include Bones Hyland (Denver, 2021), Payton Pritchard (Boston, 2020), and Landry Shamet (Philadelphia, 2018). Yet this draft class offers intriguing opportunities. The Nuggets could make a mastermind move by targeting high-upside wings who fit the modern NBA’s demand for size, versatility, and two-way potential.
Here are three prospects Denver must have on their draft board at No. 26 — and one they should avoid at all costs.
Target: Dailyn Swain — The Athletic Two-Way Project
Dailyn Swain, the Texas Longhorns product, wrapped up his junior season by locking in his status as a first-round prospect. Standing 6-foot-8 and just 20 years old, Swain possesses the physical tools to develop into a legitimate two-way difference-maker.
Though his collegiate defense didn’t always shine, his frame, length, and athleticism point toward above-average NBA defending in the right system. Offensively, he attacks downhill with burst and finishes at the rim, showing flashes of promising ball-handling and playmaking.
Swain may need time to polish his inconsistent three-point shot and could start his career as a developmental piece, but his elite physical profile makes him a potential steal at 26th overall. For a Nuggets team seeking athleticism and future flexibility, he checks every box.
Target: Koa Peat — The Aaron Gordon Blueprint
Few prospects in this range carry the immediate intrigue of Koa Peat. The Arizona Wildcats forward has lottery-level physical tools but is widely projected to slide into the late first round. At 6-foot-8 with NBA-ready strength and just 19 years old, Peat profiles as exactly the type of do-it-all forward Denver covets.
Peat brings versatile defense, rebounding, passing, and elite screening — skills that mirror Aaron Gordon’s game. His primary weakness is a currently limited three-point shot, yet his youth and well-rounded foundation provide a clear path to becoming an all-around force on both ends.
If Peat somehow remains on the board at No. 26, he should be the Nuggets’ top priority. Pairing his instincts and physicality with Nikola Jokić’s brilliance could create a nightmare frontcourt for opposing defenses for years to come.
Target: Joshua Jefferson — The Plug-and-Play Veteran
When the Nuggets need immediate rotation help rather than long-term projection, Joshua Jefferson stands out as the ideal fit. The Iowa State Cyclones product is a 6-foot-9, 22-year-old forward who has evolved into a polished, all-around contributor.
Jefferson can create for himself and others while defending at a high level. His experience culminated in All-American honors as a senior, giving him the maturity and basketball IQ to step into a contending rotation right away. While his ceiling may not match that of younger prospects like Peat or Swain, his floor is significantly higher — precisely what a playoff team like Denver requires.
Unlike the first two targets who could be selected earlier, Jefferson feels like a highly attainable and realistic option at pick 26.
Avoid: Tyler Tanner — The Size Mismatch Denver Must Pass On
Not every intriguing name is a good fit. Tyler Tanner of the Vanderbilt Commodores is a prospect many evaluators like, but he would represent a significant risk for the Nuggets at No. 26.
Tanner measured below 5-foot-11 and just 166 pounds at the combine. His slight frame raises serious questions about his ability to hold up as a backup point guard in the brutal Western Conference. While he possesses craft and competitiveness — and his defense is better than his size suggests — translating that impact to the NBA level remains a major concern.
Denver is actively searching for better defensive pieces and greater size this offseason. Unless the front office sees Tanner as a potential Jose Alvarado-type pest who can overcome physical limitations through sheer grit, his profile doesn’t align with the team’s current needs. There is still a chance he returns to college, but if he’s available at 26, the Nuggets should pivot toward one of the 6’8″ wings instead.
The Bigger Picture
The 2026 draft won’t define the Nuggets’ future on its own, but selecting the right complementary piece could accelerate their return to contention. Landing one of the three 6’8″ titans — Swain, Peat, or Jefferson — would inject youth, size, and versatility into a roster that desperately needs both.
With smart scouting and a disciplined approach at No. 26, Denver has a genuine chance to turn a late pick into a foundational building block. The difference between a mastermind move and a missed opportunity may come down to avoiding the wrong temptation and embracing the right physical profile.