Denver Nuggets: What would it take to trade Jamal Murray?
By Evan Siegel
It seems crazy, but for the Denver Nuggets, no one should be completely untouchable. What might it take to part ways with Jamal Murray?
The Knicks and Mavericks trade involving Kristaps Porzingis proved that no one player in the NBA is completely untouchable. Kawhi Leonard and Anthony Davis, widely accepted to be two of the top five players in the world, were traded within a year of each other, albeit after asking for trades.
In the event that the Nuggets decide to make Murray available, many teams would come sprinting to the negotiating table as he would be among the best young stars in the game that could be even remotely gettable.
Given Murray’s large extension that kicks in beginning next year, the Nuggets are going to have to take back considerable salary themselves. Fortunately for the Nuggets, the team has virtually no one on a bad enough deal that they would be compelled to attach to Murray. One team that comes to mind is the New York Knicks.
The Nuggets would be able to get virtually everything they want out of the Knicks. While no one player on the roster is at Murray’s level, the Nuggets could pursue a package that nets them multiple first round picks, at least one prized young asset, and somehow, cap relief.
The Knicks are in the unusual position of having four different players on non-guaranteed contracts. They also have a team option on Bobby Portis, which in effect is the same thing as a non-guaranteed deal. Taj Gibson, Elfrid Payton, Wayne Ellington, and Mitchell Robinson are all on deals that the Nuggets could easily get out of by simply waiving them or using the stretch provision.
If the Nuggets want to pursue an avenue that gives them both cap space and added draft picks, then the Knicks are their team. A potential deal could look like this:
Knicks receive: Jamal Murray
Nuggets receive: ’21 first round pick, ’21 first round pick(via Mavericks), Elfrid Payton, Wayne Ellington, Taj Gibson, and R.J. Barrett
The trade itself would work under the NBA’s salary cap rules, and because of the team’s four unrestricted free agents, none of which are going to be a particularly high priority to resign, the Nuggets can absorb the Payton, Gibson, and Ellington before ultimately waiving them.
Adding two first round picks, R.J. Barrett, and millions in salary relief could make Denver worse in the short term, but a young, developmental tandem of Barrett and Michael Porter Jr. along with two extra first round picks could make up for it.
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Additionally, as long as Nikola Jokic is around, the Nuggets will be contending in the western conference. With all these new draft picks, Denver can add another true superstar to put next to Jokic, while still keeping Barrett, Porter Jr., and at least one of their other starters. With that kind of draft capital and young, talented depth, Denver can position itself to pursue basically anyone in basketball.