Scenario 2: Nuggets get Chris Paul
Not to be that guy but Chris Paul is a player I was tempted to write about last week. Not just because Paul, who’s somehow underrated, has the type of leadership abilities that I think would do the Nuggets a world of good. Not just because he’s undoubtedly good enough to start beside Jamal Murray in the backcourt, giving Denver a pair of great 3-point shooters and facilitators.
It’s also because he’s still one of the better defensive guards in the league, being mentioned by ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Kevin Arnovitz as a potential All-Defensive team player just three months ago, and being rated favorably in a number of advanced defensive metrics this season. The league’s active leader in career steals and assists per game, his IQ on both ends would go a long way towards helping the Nuggets reach their ceiling.
The interesting thing about this trade scenario is that Swartz suggest trading three players who averaged a combined 34.5 points per game in the 2019-20 regular season, about twice as much as CP3 averaged (17.6 points per game). This gives Michael Porter Jr., who has another elite facilitator to make his life easier, a chance to step into an important role as a scorer.
A glaring issue is that, even though P.J. Dozier could step up to be a full-time backup to Paul and the team can use it’s 2020 first-round pick on a wing, the team team loses valuable depth with this move.
What do you think of these trade scenarios? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter @Nugg_Love.