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Arron Afflalo Trade Rumors: Nuggets Seeking 1st Round Pick

By S.E. Shepherd

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Jan 5, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Shabazz Muhammad (15) dives for a loose ball against Denver Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo (10) during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The Arron Afflalo trade rumors continue to heat up, and the latest reports indicate the Nuggets are holding out for a team that’s willing to put some real skin in the game to add Afflalo’s scoring ability to their roster.

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Afflalo has suddenly become one of the most buzzed about names ahead of the the NBA’s February 19 trade deadline. As I’ve written about over the last couple of days, there is no shortage of speculation about whether or not the Nuggets will choose to move the shooting guard before the deadline and, if they do, which teams might be interested in acquiring his services.

Chris Dempsey of The Denver Post recently reported on what the Nuggets are hoping to get in return for any trade involving Afflalo, and if true, their demands could limit which teams are willing to take a gamble on dealing for him:

"The Nuggets are holding firm to seeking a first-round pick from teams wanting to trade for shooting guard Arron Afflalo, according to NBA sources. There have been no takers, although interest remains high for Afflalo’s services. Teams don’t want to relinquish a first-rounder for a player that might walk on them at the end of the season. Afflalo has a player option for the final year of his contract. It is a snag that prevented Afflalo from being dealt to Charlotte, sources said."

On one hand, it would certainly seem to narrow the number of teams who could potentially get into serious talks with the Nuggets regarding Afflalo’s availability, since there probably aren’t a lot of teams that are willing to part with a valuable first round pick in exchange for a player who could choose to leave after season’s end.

That said, as a Nuggets fan, I like that the team is holding firm on maximizing their return if they send Afflalo packing. The team is on the verge of shipping most, if not all, significant players on this year’s roster to other teams, and the only way I can stomach watching this once proud franchise languish is knowing they are stockpiling valuable assets that will help them get back on track quickly. By insisting on getting a first round pick in return for Afflalo, the front office is playing hard ball and ensuring they will have plenty of flexibility in rebuilding through the draft or packaging picks to other teams in return for good, young players.

At the moment, it doesn’t sound like there are many teams willing to give up the first round pick for which the Nuggets are asking. But a lot can happen between now and mid-February. If a team in playoff contention loses a player to injury or decides to overpay to add some additional firepower for a playoff run, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Nuggets get exactly what they want in return.

Next: Five Possible Trade Destinations for Arron Afflalo

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