Sports Roundup: Sunday, April 23, 2017

Denver’s NBA team might’ve featured only one more first-round draft pick in its ideal 2023-24 starting lineup than the college squad up the road. Four of the Nuggets’ five starters were former first-rounders (Nikola Jokic really holds them back), while the University of Colorado men’s basketball team often played a lineup with at least two future first-rounders.

With the NBA draft just two weeks away, the Nuggets have several directions they could go with the No. 28 pick. A backup center? Another swingman? Draft experts across national publications have a variety of opinions as to who the Nuggets will land. NUGGETS JOURNAL: Analyzing mock draft projections for Denver’s 2024 first-round pick Here’s a look at who national draftniks are thinking will land in Denver. SB Nation | Ricky O’Donnell | Updated June 10 Kansas guard Johnny Furphy, center, passes the ball while guarded by Samford guard Jaden Campbell (2) and Samford forward Achor Achor (14) during the second half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament in Salt Lake City, Thursday, March 21, 2024.

Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders with the latest installment of his Rockies Mailbag. Pose a Rockies- or MLB-related question for the Rockies Mailbag. My questions are all trade-related. With Adael Amador getting his first taste of the bigs, I think Brendan Rodgers could be a good candidate to move in the offseason.

Sean Payton hustled off the podium Wednesday afternoon to undergo a cataracts procedure on his right eye, six days after it was performed on his left. It has been a busy offseason for the Broncos coach. He underwent charisma bypass surgery a few months ago. In his second year in charge, Payton is noticeably more comfortable and affable, revived by the competition of a young roster and no longer burdened by a quarterback that did not fit him or his scheme. Make no mistake, Payton is in charge.

PINEHURST, N. C. — Colin Prater feels a little like Kevin Costner’s character in “Tin Cup” this week — a relative unknown who suddenly finds himself thrust onto one of golf’s biggest stages at the U. S. Open. It’s a movie Prater is quite familiar with, which is why he and his caddie staked out a spot at the far right end of the practice range — just in case things went completely awry. “It was funny we were joking before we got out here, like, we’re not going to the left side of the range just because we didn’t want that dreaded S-word to kick in,” Prater said with a laugh, referring to Costner’s character who developed a case of the shanks before his round.

In the days the Broncos have opened practice, rookie quarterback Bo Nix has rarely made a mistake. But during the final day of mandatory minicamp, the former Oregon standout’s pass during the 7-on-7 period proved costly. Nix attempted to throw to rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin, but cornerback Levi Wallace, who had provided tight coverage, tipped the ball before securing an interception. While Denver’s offense was inconsistent, the cornerbacks tried to state their case in a heated competition. During 11-on-11 in the red zone, Nix’s pass attempt to wide receiver Brandon Johnson was broken up by cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian.