Matt Moore here, the host of the daily Locked On Nuggets podcast, with your daily Locked On Nuggets newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Nuggets and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
The Nuggets’ Trade Options
Nov 10, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) following a score in the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy/Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
There are just three weeks until the NBA trade deadline.
Your Nuggets are on a stretch of great play having won seven of ten and climbing up the Western Conference standings.
Still, there are questions about the short and long-term future of the roster and whether it’s enough to hold up the championship standard that Nikola Jokic has set.
Here’s a brief look at what the Nuggets have and don’t have to trade and some options.
WHAT DENVER CAN TRADE
First off, Jamal Murray cannot be traded after signing his extension last summer. That’s not “it’s hard to trade him” or “the Nuggets choose not to trade him.” They actually can’t. It’s not allowed.
Same deal for Aaron Gordon for a calendar year.
They’re not going to trade Nikola Jokic, surprise, surprise.
That leaves Michael Porter Jr. as the only player with value they can move which is why he continues to appear in rumors.
Denver’s not necessarily itching to move on from MPJ; they just don’t have any other options.
They would love to move Zeke Nnaji’s deal, the fifth-highest annual contract on Denver’s roster, but are having a hard time finding takers.
Denver has swapped most of its first and second round picks. They do have a 2031 pick they can deal and can attach and have some options for pick swaps depending on which picks convey when.
POTENTIAL TARGETS:
The Nugget have been linked to several trade options.
Atlanta’s DeAndre Hunter and Onyeka Okongwu are two potential options along with Jokic’s Serbian teammate Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Zach LaVine is a potential option but Chicago has resisted taking on Zeke Nnaji’s contract.
The Nuggets are also linked to the Raptors with interest in both Chris Boucher and Bruce Brown.
There’s also a small chance Denver gets in as a multi-team trade partner with Miami and Phoenix though it’s unlikely they take on Bradley Beal or Jimmy Butler.
The Nuggets have done previous deals with OKC and Charlotte and have connections to Chicago, Brooklyn, and Minnesota.
We’ll see what the Nuggets come up with, if anything, before the deadline as they pursue the team’s second title in franchise history.
Jan 13, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles up court against the Toronto Raptors during the second half at Scotiabank Arena. | John E. Sokolowski/John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Something I realized last night at the Warriors-Raptors game, perhaps more pressingly than the last time the team was in town a season ago — this thing isn’t going to last forever.
You wouldn’t get that impression from Steph Curry, who takes his pre-game warmup last and happily engages with the fans who show up an hour before tip-off to watch him. Curry’s off-court presence, compared to his superstar contemporaries, has always been demure and private, but watching him revel and work within that outsized adoration is a privilege in itself. No fan in attendance watching him take feathery lob after feathery lob, or take a volleyball spike to the basketball so he could meet it mid-air for a dunk, was thinking about the finite nature of Curry — performer or competitor.
Even if the underlying desire of proximity to greatness stems from the understanding that one day that greatness will no longer exist, that reality doesn’t translate in the moment. In the moment, there’s just Curry, laughing with his coaches, signing the backs of jerseys, going through footwork, prepping for the night’s game.
Where the impression of a dynasty in its final stages becomes more pronounced is through the words of Warriors coach, Steve Kerr. Asked about how difficult it is to maintain a dynasty, and Kerr reverted to Curry.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Analysis TheDetroit Pistons are emerging as a serious surprise story this season. (TSN)
Biz Explosive court documents show co-conspirators and other shocking details in Jontay Porter’s ongoing betting scandal. (The Athletic)
Honor Russell Westbrook has been nominated for the NBA’s Community Assist Award, recognizing his significant impact off the court. Learn more about Westbrook’s contributions to the community. (Sports Illustrated)
Preview The Nuggets head south to take on the Mavericks tonight at 8:30 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
NBA Injury Update: Key Players Sidelined and Return Timelines For Fantasy Basketball
Jan 12, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (13) attempts a three point basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the third quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray/Rob Gray-Imagn Images
As we approach the midpoint of the NBA season, injuries continue to play a significant role in shaping team dynamics and fantasy basketball strategies. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most impactful injuries across the league and their potential implications.
The Utah Jazz are once again at the forefront of injury-related drama. Lauri Markkanen’s back spasms and John Collins’ hip issue have raised eyebrows, with many speculating about potential load management strategies. Keyonte George’s heel soreness has kept him out for five consecutive games, while Jordan Clarkson’s plantar fascia injury could potentially end his season. The Jazz’s injury situation is one to monitor closely, as it could lead to increased opportunities for players like Kyle Filipowski and Isaiah Collier
In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid’s knee injury has kept him out for four consecutive games. This absence highlights the risks associated with drafting Embiid in the first round of fantasy drafts. With a busy schedule ahead, including back-to-back sets, Embiid’s playing time could be limited even upon his return.
For more insights and a deeper dive into NBA injuries and their fantasy implications, tune into the Locked On Fantasy Basketball podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Fantasy Basketball Podcast:
• Portland Trail Blazers injury updates
• Phoenix Suns roster changes and injury concerns
• Orlando Magic’s lengthy injury report and fantasy implications
3peat (ICYMI)
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