Denver Nuggets: A blueprint for success in 2021-22
By Dennis Smith
Denver Nuggets offseason plan: Trade for Harrison Barnes or Buddy Hield
To build off of the first step in acquiring Lonzo, the Nuggets desperately need to go find themselves some shooting.
Alongside Lonzo would be one of the best passers in the league in Nikola Jokic. When you have two superior playmakers of that caliber at your point guard and center positions, it is only right to fill out the roster with players that can really shoot the ball.
A trade idea that may surprise Nuggets fans and could make some uncomfortable would be one centered around Aaron Gordon for Harrison Barnes or Buddy Hield. Assuming Will Barton declines his Player Option or he gets moved to a third team in a salary dump, Denver can trade for one of the two.
Before the season began, there were rumblings that the Sacramento Kings wanted to shop both players and Sam Amick, The Athletic reported that Barnes was nearly traded this past deadline.
Would Sacramento accept Barnes for AG, Bol Bol, and a first-round pick for Barnes? Possibly this season’s 26th pick.
Some might see this as somewhat of a confusing trade to make because the Nuggets acquired Aaron Gordon at the end of the season and he looked like a great fit with the Nuggets when everyone was healthy, which makes this scenario a bit of a stretch.
When the Nuggets get back healthy, Gordon would become much more of a factor, but during the recent playoff run, Aaron Gordon along with others was asked to do much more than what they usually do. Even with that being the case, it was very apparent that it was a struggle for him to create easy scoring opportunities for himself and he’s not much of a shooter.
Barnes brings a fraction of what Gordon does on defense but is a much better shooter from the perimeter.
According to Mike Singer, The Denver Post, back before the trade deadline, the Denver Nuggets were eying Barnes at the same time they were looking at Gordon. Understanding it would be weird to shop Aaron Gordon for HB or Buddy now but one can’t deny the added firepower on offense it’d bring.
Buddy Hield is a player you could see playing much better and competing harder in a winning environment. He’s an absolute sniper from 3-point range one of the best in the league at shooting the 3-ball there is no denying that.
He took the third-most 3-pointers per game this season, only behind Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard and made 40 percent of them, 47 percent from the corner per Cleaning the Glass.
Surrounding him with capable playmakers and other shooters would only elevate his game. Instead of trying to hit his high-volume threes with the Kings, he’d be doing it off the pressure of Jokic or Jamal.
Harrison Barnes is an easy plug-and-play, 3-and-D type who could play the same role as Gordon on offense while still guarding the big wings Aaron was brought in for.
So, with the first step in mind, imagine a lineup at the beginning of the season that features Lonzo Ball, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr, Nikola Jokic, and Buddy Hield or Harrison Barnes. You give Nikola Jokic a true point guard in Lonzo who is only getting better and better that plays good defense, two 3-point snipers in MPJ and Buddy running around trying to find their shot opening up the floor, or your prototypical 3-and-D player in Harrison Barnes.
The Denver Nuggets would instantly become a more dangerous team with the two-man game of Murray and Jokic flanked by elite shooting.