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Is Wilson Chandler on the Move?

By S.E. Shepherd

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Jan 25, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) during the game against the Washington Wizards at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Wilson Chandler has been the subject of trade rumors for the majority of this season, so it’s no surprise to hear his name being mentioned ahead of the upcoming NBA trade deadline. But with his name once again popping up as being a potential target of a number of teams still in playoff contention, could we finally see Chandler pack his bags and head to another team?

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Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders is the latest to report that multiple teams have expressed interest in acquiring Chandler’s services. In a post from February 4, Kennedy indicates the two teams making the most serious inquiries are two Western Conference contenders: the Los Angeles Clippers and the Portland Trail Blazers:

"“The Clippers have been looking for help on the wing (they even tried to trade for Jeff Green before he landed with the Memphis Grizzlies), so it’s no surprise that they’re interested in Chandler. It’s unclear what they’re offering, as they don’t have many trade assets.The Blazers like Chandler and believe he would bolster their roster for a playoff push. As I recently wrote about, many teams in the Western Conference are looking to make moves in what has become an arms race. So far, the Dallas Mavericks have landed Rajon Rondo, the Oklahoma City Thunder acquired Dion Waiters, the Grizzlies added Jeff Green, the Houston Rockets acquired Corey Brewer and Josh Smith, the Phoenix Suns brought in Brandan Wright.”"

Kennedy points out that Chandler is an attractive player for teams like the Clippers and Blazer since he’s putting up solid numbers so far this season (13.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game) and he’s due to earn a manageable $7.1 million during the 2015-16 season, the last year on his current contract. But the Nuggets appear set on getting something valuable in return if they decided to part ways with Chandler, with Kennedy reporting the team expects to receive a first-round pick as part of any deal involving him.

Chandler is one of the few players who has consistently performed for the Nuggets this season, so it’s tough to imagine the team playing anything close to decent basketball without his contributions. That said, we all know that this season is essentially over for Denver at this point, and if they are preparing to enter a rebuilding period, they need to dedicate the remainder of the season to getting their young guys increased minutes to help them develop and determine if they fit into the team’s long-term plans, while stockpiling future draft picks to try to land something resembling a star player. As painful as it would be to see Ill Will end his time in Denver, the writing appears to be on the wall and fans should prepare themselves for his seemingly inevitable departure.

What do you think, Nuggets fans? Should the team strike while the iron is hot and cash in on Wilson Chandler while teams are interested? Or should they wait until the offseason and see if more teams come calling then? Share your thoughts in the comments below or on Twitter.

Next: Are the Nuggets Imploding Right Before Our Very Eyes?

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