Rumor: Nuggets Interested In Trading Up For Beal

The Denver Nuggets have the assets to make a move in Thursday’s draft and one player that may be of interest is Florida’s guard Bradley Beal.

According to ESPN’s Andy Katz, the Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are interested in trading up for Beal.

Beal, who is only 18 years old, has impressed many in the NBA circuit with his maturity and work ethic. He also graded in much bigger than what many expected (6-foot-5, 202 pounds). Beal has always been a great shooter and scorer, earning comparisons to Eric Gordon and Ray Allen. However, he also was a good rebounder for his position and an adequate defender for Florida.

Beal is expected to be drafted second or third in the draft and so the Nuggets would likely have to work out a deal with the Charlotte Bobcats, who have the second pick in the draft. They also would have to compile a trade surrounding Arron Afflalo and Wilson Chandler and would have to take back the salary of the young, but erratic power forward Tyrus Thomas, who is due to make $27 million over the next three years).

It would be a gamble, but it would be one worth taking to get the Nuggets over the hump.