Denver Nuggets: 3 possible Damian Lillard trades this offseason

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Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. of the Denver Nuggets talk during a timeout during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images) /

Denver Nuggets potential trade for Damian Lillard: #1 Players, not picks

This first trade is based around Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr for Damian Lillard. It’d require Will Barton declining his Player Option worth $14.6 million (or the Nuggets finding a trade partner willing to take it for free).

I’ve also put down that Paul Millsap takes the veteran minimum which is very much up in the air. If Denver did get Dame, you’d hope Millsap, and several other veterans are happily taking a pay cut for a chance at an NBA championship.

While it hurts losing Jamal, the move essentially brings Denver’s title window closer by one season. It might be safe to assume that when Murray does get back on the court he won’t be at 100 percent. Not only will he be in poor game shape, but he’s also having to learn how to play with a reconstructed ACL.

I have every faith in the world that Jamal, who’s only 24-years-old, will come back just as elite as he was before the injury, but it might take an entire season of recovery.

Instead of waiting a year, wasting away a year of Nikola Jokic’s prime, this gives Denver a Jamal replacement in Dame who can help them contend today.

I’ve included no future draft assets in this trade as MPJ, still on his rookie deal, is worth more than any future asset anyway. After an outstanding second season on the court, one deserving of 2020-21 Most Improved Player finalist, MPJ could be viewed as a building block for Portland post-Lillard.

It also lets Denver breathe a sigh of relief as they don’t have to worry about any future injuries to MPJ’s back. They’ll have to breathe that sigh right back in as it opens up a huge hole at the forward spot and Denver would then need a third scoring option. This leads me to the next fake trade: