Denver Nuggets: 3 trades that could bring another star to the Mile High
Zach LaVine
Chicago Bulls shooting guard Zach LaVine may not be Nuggets’ fans favorite potential trade target but he should be one of them. The 25-year-old LaVine wouldn’t just add high-level scoring but an element of athleticism that’s missing from the most of Denver’s rotation.
| Season | G | GS | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | TOV | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 60 | 60 | 34.8 | 9.0 | 20.0 | .450 | 3.1 | 8.1 | .380 | 4.5 | 5.6 | .802 | 0.7 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 1.5 | 3.4 | 25.5 |
It’s not often that one of the youngest teams in the league will play at a slow pace, as coaches of those teams like to take advantage of their youth and play a faster-paced game. This is partially because those players will play off of their instincts and reactions rather than overthinking but it’s also a battle of attrition as they attempt to wear down their opponent.
Aside from Gary Harris, can Nuggets fans name any player in the rotation with elite athleticism? Jerami Grant is more fluid than explosive and Michael Porter Jr. is a great run-and-jump athlete but his lack of lateral agility is one reason why he was a weak link for Denver defensively.
The Nuggets will have to send the Bulls cash considerations to make this deal work without trading away another player. However, a trade for LaVine looks a lot like a trade for Holiday, except Denver sends Chicago a package with Will Barton instead of Gary Harris to help the Bulls replace Young Hollywood’s scoring.