Denver Nuggets: Trade of the week-could Gary Harris be involved?

Gary Harris is the most likely piece of the Nuggets roster who, if dealt, could provide the necessary return that would get the team to the next tier in the western conference.

Proposal:

In this potential deal, the Nuggets would receive Lonzo Ball and J.J. Redick, who both will be entering the final years of their current contracts. Harris’s $19.1 million salary for the 2020-2021 season would get the job done. Financially, this trade would get the NBA’s green light, but the Pelicans would be wise to grab a draft pick from the Nuggets as well given the loss of Ball in particular.

The Hollinger Analysis of the trade would provide the Pelicans with four more wins to their current total, while the Nuggets would be out five wins.

This trade proposal is certainly not without some reservations. Could Ball and Jamal Murray coexist in the same backcourt given their checkered past?  Would putting Murray at shooting guard and Ball starting at point guard work?  Would having Redick come off the bench to provide floor spacing be worth his defensive inefficiencies?

Those questions aside, putting Ball on the other team’s top offensive guard would be a very nice luxury.  Murray’s offensive prowess paired with Ball’s on-ball defense could be the perfect pairing.  Putting Murray at shooting guard might alleviate some of the constant wear and tear on his ankles.

This isn’t going to get the Nuggets any closer to developing a “big three”.  But if Michael Porter Jr. progresses to the level of Murray and Nikola Jokic, the homegrown trio would just need some ancillary support changes from the current roster to aid in his development and push the Nuggets closer to the NBA finals.

Stay tuned for next week’s Trade of the Week.