There’s probably a deal that can be had here to held the Nuggets out while perhaps facilitating a larger move for the Wizards. The Nuggets have major connections to the Wizards staff with Tommy Shepherd, Wes Unseld Jr., Tim Connelly, and Michael Malone all interwoven. The Wizards just paid Gafford and are already rumored to be looking for upgrades to keep Bradley Beal intrigued. He’s not a good defender, but he would assist Denver’s bench offense in a major way.īryant is on an expiring contract and will be a free agent at the end of the season. There are too many players and not enough wins.īryant has played just 10 games, and though he hasn’t been great, he’s generally a hyper efficient roll man with good touch and rebounding production. The Wizards also have Kyle Kuzma, Deni Avdija, Davis Bertans, and Rui Hachimura in their prospective frontcourt. He’s returning from a major injury and joining a center rotation also held by Daniel Gafford and Montrezl Harrell. Thomas Bryant can’t be blamed for the struggles either. The defense has regressed in a big way, and the offense never got off the ground. The Washington Wizards have also been disappointing after roaring out to an incredible start. Thomas Bryant - Center, Washington Wizards If the Nuggets could acquire that level of player for matching salary and the cost of a second round pick, they should absolutely make it happen. His defensive activity makes up for offensive deficiencies, and he’d be ideal to solidify the bench center minutes for any contender. Noel’s usage rate has been fairly low in New York, but he’s still maintaining 59.6% true shooting, a 2.7% steal rate, and a 5.7% block rate, the only player in the NBA to do so. With that in mind, the Nuggets should target Nerlens Noel, perhaps the best rim rolling big man on the trade market. In addition, Julius Randle has regressed, leaving the Knicks with major questions about the contention window of their team. Their record hasn’t progressed the way they hoped, and their two biggest additions-Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker-have performed poorly for the majority of the year. The New York Knicks are one of the biggest disappointments in the NBA this year. Let’s discuss some of the names rumored to be available at the deadline for the right price that could potentially fill those roles for the Nuggets going forward: That leaves a true wing off the bench and a true center. Either Porter or Uncle Jeff will slide to the second unit to provide another reliable forward, and Zeke Nnaji has played well enough to be trusted with some playoff minutes as well. The bench unit will be captained by Monte Morris when Murray returns. The starting lineup is one of the best in the NBA (again, when healthy). Every other position, in theory, is taken care of. There are just a couple of pieces missing from a prospective championship run: a potent 3&D wing and a quality backup center. Denver has an MVP candidate and an elite supporting cast when healthy. Still, there are ways the Nuggets may look to improve while they still have an opportunity. They know how important those two are to the present and future of the organization. It’s why the Nuggets are so cautious with both Murray and Porter. No player the Nuggets can add this year will change that reality. As was proved in the playoffs at the highest level last year, playing the Phoenix Suns without their star point guard put a firm ceiling on Denver’s capabilities. Whether that playoff run happens or not is certainly more dependent on the healthy returns of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. They’ve played well enough during the first 53 games to position themselves for a playoff run. The Minnesota Timberwolves are nipping at Denver’s heels a bit at 28-25, but the Nuggets are still in control of their own destiny. Nikola Jokić has put together a historic season, independent of MVP narratives, and the work of Aaron Gordon, Will Barton, Monte Morris, and Jeff Green throughout various parts of the season has helped Denver keep above the play-in threshold in the Western Conference. The Sacramento Kings are…well, they’re doing what the Kings usually do.įor the Nuggets, to be 29-24 at this stage of the season given the injuries they’ve faced is fairly impressive. Teams across the league are evaluating their chances at a championship this season and making decisions accordingly. The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Caris LeVert from the Indiana Pacers. The Los Angeles Clippers acquired Norman Powell and Robert Covington from the Portland Trail Blazers. As the Denver Nuggets and the rest of the NBA approach Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, the rumors and reports are starting to pile up.
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