The Denver Nuggets are reportedly close to ditching their former lottery-selected wing in favor of taking on one of the worst contracts in the NBA.
Doesn’t sound like something a recent NBA champion would do, but here we are, and somehow, the trade actually doesn’t seem like a bad idea.
The Nuggets clearly need some sort of roster shakeup. They’ve recently experimented with plugging Russell Westbrook into the starting lineup, but more drastic changes are required.
New reports indicate that Denver is at the point where they’re willing to take a risk on a two-time All-Star guard that everyone has steered clear of on the trade market over the last year-plus.
Forbes Sports’ Evan Sidery reported late on Tuesday evening that the Nuggets might be bringing aboard Chicago Bulls shooting guard Zach LaVine.
“The Nuggets are showing significant trade interest in Zach LaVine,” Sidery said.
“Denver would likely send Michael Porter Jr. and Zeke Nnaji to make salaries work with the Bulls.”
“A potential early blockbuster forming in NBA trade season.”
Such a trade would be a huge turning point in the Nuggets’ recent history as a franchise. Mere months ago, Denver viewed Porter Jr. as one of their franchise cornerstones. After selecting Porter Jr. in the lottery of the 2018 draft, the Nuggets won a title with Porter Jr. playing a key role and they gave him a massive new deal.
Now it looks like they are ready to move on from Porter Jr.
LaVine’s $138 million owed over this season and two more seasons is difficult to swallow, but Denver might feel that he’s the guy that Michael Porter Jr. isn’t — a reliable third scoring option behind Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray to solidify the Nuggets’ offensive excellence.
And with the way LaVine has looked recently, the Nuggets might be onto something.
Jokić, Murray, LaVine, and Aaron Gordon is an impressive core, with great depth surrounding it comprised of Westbrook, Christian Braun, and rising assets Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther.
Add in an upgrade to DeAndre Jordan at backup center, and there’s no reason the Nuggets can’t get back to the NBA Finals this year.
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