Denver Nuggets: The Wilson Chandler Trades Part II- The West
By Tim Hart
Minnesota Timberwolves
ESPN’s NBA Trade Machine Results: Timberwolves +2 Wins, Nuggets Unaffected
The Timberwolves are projected to benefit the most form this mock-trade, but the Nuggets would not lose anything themselves.
Why the Timberwolves would do it:
They would have experienced and athletic players at both forward positions. Chandler could be a great starting SF for the Timberwolves. He has earned that right. Then, with Faried coming off the bench at PF, the Timberwolves would see a significant boost to their lineup.
Pekovic and Rubio seem out of place, and rather expendable. Adding Faried and Chandler would make better use of the organization’s payroll funds.
Why the Nuggets would do it:
Ricky Rubio would be much more valuable to the Nuggets than the Timberwolves. Their young guards could learn a lot from Rubio, particularly on the passing-side of the game. Plus, his play-making ability still provides plenty of on-court production. He would likely come off the bench, and work to set up players like Will Barton, Jamal Murray, and Darrell Arthur, giving a serious bump to the Nuggets’ second unit.
Their starting 5 would need some mending. In Faried’s absence, Jokic would likely absorb the starting PF spot. The starting C spot may go to Jusuf Nurkic. Him and Pekovic would likely split the minutes at the position. This mock-trade would give the Bosnian Beast an opportunity to step up his game, which he seems hungry for. But given the uncertainty of this situation, it makes sense that the Trade Machine sees the Nuggets unaffected by Pekovic’s acquisition.
The upped abilities of the Nuggets bench might be enough to make this trade worthwhile. However, much if its success would rely on Jusuf Nurkic’s ability to perform. It’d be a bit of a gamble.
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