The Denver Nuggets are going into the 2026 offseason with the intention of finding a reliable backup center next season. The Nuggets spent 2025-2026 having Jonas Valanciunas play that role off the bench, but after a down year, it may be time to look elsewhere for help. 

Valanciunas is owed $10 million next season, and with the salary cap issues the Nuggets are facing, releasing him from the roster to free up cap space is a real possibility. 

Denver could look to the 2026 NBA Draft to fix the issue, as it can save them money and allow them to develop a reliable big man for the future. A new mock draft from Bleacher Report has the Nuggets slated to pick Tarris Reed Jr. with the 26th overall pick. 

Reed is a player who plays with an "old-school" style. He has a big frame, standing at 6'10 and weighing 264 pounds. He plays a lot around the interior and thrives off his physicality. 

In his senior season at UConn, he averaged 14.7 points per game, 9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. He is a player who is very versatile for his size and can provide a lot of the dirty work for any team that drafts him. 

If the Nuggets were to pick him, they may run into an issue with spacing. Reed isn't much of a shooter, and he isn't impressive from the free-throw line either. Denver would have to navigate around that and find a way to be consistent from the perimeter when he's on the court. 

Considering Reed has a few holes in his game, it's tough to say this is a player who can come in and play right away for the Nuggets. While the Nuggets need new bodies on the floor next season, they know their new players can't be liabilities either. 

Tarris Reed Jr. would have to adjust to NBA speed, and while the physical traits are there, it's not easy to adjust to professional conditioning. 

Just because Reed may not be ready to play right away, it doesn't mean he would be a bad selection in the first round. A lot of Jonas Valanciunas' issues with the Nuggets last season had to do with him being a step slower, leading to opposing offenses exploiting that. 

Reed won't have issues with his speed, as he is an athletic big man who can contest shots in the interior. His athleticism can provide a big lift for Denver's bench, and if he can develop into a well-rounded big man, the Nuggets will have a big advantage in the frontcourt for years to come.