DENVER, June 23, 2023 – The Denver Nuggets have acquired the draft rights to guard Julian Strawther at 29thoverall, guard Jalen Pickett at 32nd overall and forward Hunter Tyson at 37th overall, as well as a 2024 second-round pick, in exchange for the 40th overall pick and a protected future first round pick as part of a four-team draft-night trade with Indiana, Oklahoma City and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Strawther, 6-7, 205, played three seasons for Gonzaga University, appearing in 94 career games (68 starts) for the Bulldogs. He held career averages of 10.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 48.4% from the field and 38.4% from three in 23.4 minutes per game. Strawther was named to the 2022-23 All-WCC First Team and was a Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award finalist after averaging 15.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 40.8% from three during the 2022-23 season.
Pickett, 6-4, 202, appeared in 144 games (142 starts) over four seasons with Penn State University and Siena College. In two seasons with Penn State, Pickett averaged 15.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 47.0% from the field and 34.7% from three in 36.9 minutes per game. He finished his college career with 2,207 points, 780 rebounds, 841 assists, 178 steals and 115 blocks, becoming the only Division I men’s basketball player since the 1985-86 season to have accumulated those numbers in a career.
Tyson, 6-8, 215, played four seasons and appeared in 140 games (73 starts) for Clemson University, holding career averages of 8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 45.3% from the field and 36.6% from three. He was selected to the 2022-23 All-ACC First Team and became the 44th player in Clemson history to amass 1,000 career points. His 16 double-doubles during the 2022-23 season tied him for eighth all-time in Clemson history for a single season.
