The NBA Trade Deadline is on February 6th, just over two weeks away. It’s when teams become buyers or sellers, deciding on their future, determining whether they have a chance at a championship or more ping pong balls on the lottery.
For the Nuggets, it’s effectively Denver’s final chance to add to their roster before the playoffs. It’s the last opportunity for the Nuggets to possibly change their future, and the decision could be season-altering.
When the Nuggets lost to the Washington Wizards on December 7th, they dropped to an 11-10 record. Since then, the Nuggets are 15-6 and are playing like a title contender. They won’t catch the Oklahoma City Thunder in the standings, but there’s a strong possibility the Nuggets finish in the top four in the Western Conference and could go as high as second.
They’re ready for winning time. Will they make moves at the deadline to help them win?
The Zach LaVine rumors will persist until the deadline, but the Nuggets are less likely to make that deal now than they were when they lost to Washington. Jamal Murray has turned his season around in a big way, and Michael Porter Jr. has been mostly consistent as a perimeter option next to Nikola Jokic.
Aaron Gordon is back healthy. Russell Westbrook and Christian Braun are playing well as starters and will be in a playoff rotation. Ditto for Peyton Watson as Denver’s most dynamic defender and rim protector.
The questions begin with Julian Strawther and DeAndre Jordan. Strawther’s still in his second season, and the Nuggets didn’t end up playing Watson last year in his second season. If there was a veteran wing option around, would Michael Malone be tempted to play him over the younger option?
The same question persists in the frontcourt. Jordan has filled in well as the backup center, and if the Nuggets need a big body, he’s played in the playoffs before. Jordan isn’t versatile though, and the Nuggets could use a frontcourt player that can move on the perimeter and even shoot.
So, what’s on the market? That’s the ever important question.
The Nuggets have been tied to two Toronto Raptors: Bruce Brown and Chris Boucher. They might also hold some interest in Kelly Olynyk, but it’s mainly Brown and Boucher.
If the Nuggets target Brown, it has to be on the buyout market. Denver can’t trade for his $23 million salary. They also can’t technically sign him on the buyout market either because they’re a first apron team. If Denver wants Brown, they need to make cost cutting moves to add him. That likely means trading Zeke Nnaji and attaching draft capital.
Would you trade Nnaji and the 2031 first round pick for Bruce Brown back? When phrased like that, it doesn’t sound so bad.
Boucher is a standard addition on the trade market, a floor spacing big man that can block some shots in a bench role. Does he change Denver’s future? No. Could he play in a playoff series that DeAndre Jordan can’t? Yes.
Some other names to watch that have NOT been tied to the Nuggets but make sense to monitor:
- Jalen Smith - Backup Center, Chicago Bulls
- Caleb Martin and Cody Martin - Backup Wing, Philadelphia 76ers and Charlotte Hornets
- Robert Williams - Backup Center, Portland Trail Blazers
- Matisse Thybulle - Backup Wing, Portland Trail Blazers
- Javonte Green - Backup Wing, New Orleans Pelicans
If the Nuggets are focused on making a smaller deal to add to the edges of their rotation, those are the names I would call about and assume Denver could afford.
If the Nuggets are interested in making a larger addition, they have major salary issues to deal with. They probably won’t be able to entice either the Pelicans or Blazers to give up Herb Jones or Deni Avdija, but those are the two names I’d make a significant offer for if they were deemed available.
