A notable NBA insider predicts that if the Denver Nuggets don’t have a deep run in this year’s playoffs, they will target a trade for one of the greatest scorers of all time.
This has been another good season for the Nuggets. Heading into their game on national television against the Los Angeles Lakers, their 44-25 record is tied for the second-best in what is a tough Western Conference. However, there are some NBA pundits who believe their record may be clouding how good the Nuggets actually are.
To the surprise of no one, reigning MVP Nikola Jokic is playing out of his mind again this season. He leads the team in scoring (29.1), rebounds (12.8), assists (10.3) and steals (1.8). And in most of those categories, the next highest player isn’t close. It has created a debate that Denver is a mediocre team that is being elevated by one of the greatest players ever.
This year’s postseason will reveal a lot about a team that still has many of the key players from their NBA title run a couple of seasons ago. If veterans like Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon can’t turn the clock back to 2023, Bleacher Report NBA insider Eric Pincus believes Denver will go big game hunting on the trade market this summer.
Could the Denver Nuggets target Kevin Durant trade this summer?
“Denver has been stuck in the luxury tax. Above the first apron, with limited flexibility just below the second apron,” Pincus wrote in a new column predicting trade targets for every team this summer. “The team has struggled to maintain its level of experienced veteran talent. Losing Bruce Brown Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in subsequent seasons.
“If Denver doesn’t win this year, should it look to add another high-level, expensive star at the cost of depth—like Kevin Durant for Porter, Julian Strawther, Zeke Nnaji, Dario Šarić, and others?”
The Phoenix Suns have been a huge disappointment this season. Despite having a pair of superstar talents in Durant and Devin Booker. They tried to trade Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors before this year’s trade deadline. But the 15-time All-Star scuttled the deal. There have been rumors ever since that the Suns will revisit trade talks in the offseason.
If Jokic had the chance to play with another elite scorer and be even more of a facilitator, it could put Denver back in the thick of the title contender discussion next season.
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