Denver Nuggets: Three trade targets on the wing
By Sean Carroll
The Denver Nuggets need help on the wing and it’s looking like the team will be making some calls at this season’s trade deadline.
The Aaron Gordon trade paired Nikola Jokic with one of the better defensive forwards in the league, but he’s better off guarding the bigger scorers in the league and giving Michael Malone a consistent switching option.
When at full strength, the Nuggets will have a position to fill alongside Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. and given the offensive firepower of those two players, it’d make sense to bring in a 3-and-D role player.
Unfortunately for Denver, elite 3-and-D role players go for a pretty penny. Tim Connelly will have to hunt for undervalued options that both fix his team’s needs as well as salary sheet. Since the team is paying Jokic, MPJ, and Murray their maxes, trying to squeeze in higher salary players becomes difficult.
Mike Singer, The Denver Post recently reported that the Denver Nuggets will be looking for a wing at the deadline and that they’re willing to move on from JaMychal Green’s salary:
"“The Denver Nuggets are actively looking for a wing to help replace [P.J.] Dozier and Porter, two league sources told The Denver Post. As of right now, they don’t have any traditional wings on the roster. Will Barton played the three last year, but he’s more a shooting guard. Aaron Gordon is a power forward moonlighting as a three in a bigger starting lineup. On the bench, there’s no one you could reasonably deem a ‘wing’.”"
Singer mentioned names like Terrence Ross and Eric Gordon, two veterans that have publicly been available for a long time. He adds that fans should keep an eye out for wings on non-contending teams like Portland, Indiana, Orlando, or Oklahoma City.
Let’s get into the list of players that could be targetted by the Denver Nuggets this trade deadline: