Nuggets Trade Deadline, Radio Silence?
Read Time:4 Minute, 33 Second
The Nuggets Made Moves
What did the Denver Nuggets do at the trade deadline, why are fans so upset, and why didn’t they make the giant splash that everyone was for some reason expecting? I feel a little weird saying that Tim Connelly and the Denver Nuggets front office remained silent over the trade period this season… As I recall they brought in Bryn Forbes, they flipped an injured played out for the season and a player that never touched the floor for a legitimate sniper, who has been an immediate bench impact player. I also recall a loud fan demand that they go out and grab Demarcus Cousins, who I seem to remember is actively on his third 10-day contract and has played in a handful of games for the Denver Nuggets.
It was reported that Tim Connelly and the Nuggets were seeking a strong defensive wing presence to bolster that side of the ball and to correct for the poor wing defense that has plagued the Nuggets this season. There have been many reports that the Orlando Magic might be willing to buyout our old friend Gary Harris and that there is a strong mutual interest in bringing this man back to the Denver Nuggets. Do you guys happen to remember if Gary Harris was a strong wing defender? Was he a guard that, when healthy, could knock down open shots, make off-ball movements and back cuts that worked with Nikola Jokic’s game perfectly? His contract was the problem in the past, but a buyout allows the contract to no longer play a major factor.
Another reason that the Nuggets didn’t go out and trade for any big-name stars, is because they literally have two of the biggest impact players on their payroll returning to the lineup before the start of the playoffs. If you guys recall we have these two guys, that are actively not on the floor every night, both of whom are max contract players. Remember Jamal Murray (21-4-5 last season) and Michael Porter Jr (19-7-1 last season), and how both are 40+% three-point shooters, and two of our three highest paid players on the roster? Now to get them back and expect those numbers immediately wouldn’t be fair to either of them, who will be returning from serious injuries (ACL and Back Surgery respectively), but working back into playing shape and getting the chemistry back will be what the months of April and May are all about.
Before Jamal’s injury last season, on April 12th vs the Warriors, He had sat out for four games with knee soreness. The Nuggets traded for Aaron Gordon on March 25th, and he played his first game as a Nugget March 28th. The Nuggets got big wins over the Hawks, Clippers, Sixers, and Magic in the first four games with a fully healthy roster. They would go 9-1 before Jamal tore his ACL. After Murray’s injury, they would go 12-4 to end the season and beat the Trailblazers in the first round of the playoffs. A roster without its biggest energy player and top talent leaders, was still able to win a playoff series against a good Portland team. This same roster, missing Jamal and now MPJ, is still staying afloat as a playoff team. Getting one of our two stars back makes me believe they can make a second-round push again, but getting both back makes me believe the Nuggets are a contender this season.
The reason the Nuggets only brought in a role player and a backup center is because they are actively in a playoff spot, they are somewhat in a healthy position in terms of seeding, and they are getting two future All-Stars back in the next month. The Nuggets have spent the 12th most in terms of salary cap in the NBA, and are $10 million away from the Luxury Tax line of $145 million. They have space to bring in Gary Harris and sign Demarcus Cousins with $8-10 million dollars between two contracts, before it becomes a costly investment.
The Nuggets currently sit at 30-24, in the sixth seed, they are two games behind the Mavericks, who have played two more games than the Nuggets and just traded All-Star Kristaps Porzingis. They are 1.5 games ahead of the Timberwolves who have also played one more game than the Nuggets. The way that Nikola has kept this team on a steady pace, maintained his MVP form, and held the Nuggets in the playoffs has been nothing short of remarkable and is the exact reason that Jamal Murray and MPJ are afforded the luxury of taking their time and only coming back to the team when they are ready.
The Nuggets are positioned perfectly to get healthy and make a legitimate run at an NBA championship from a 5th-7th seed. I can promise that wherever they end up seeding wise, the other team matched up against the Nuggets will not be excited to play against them. If healthy and with a lot of luck, the roster below looks like an NBA Championship roster to me.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
100 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0
Average Rating