Denver Nuggets: Three trade targets on the wing
By Sean Carroll
Denver Nuggets wing trade targets: Robert Covington
Robert Covington used to be the poster child for 3-and-D wings in the NBA but right now, he’s playing for a deteriorating Portland Trail Blazers team that could be sellers at this year’s trade deadline.
The 31-year-old is currently averaging just over seven points a night and shooting 35 percent from the 3-point line. He’s less of a point of attack defender and now used in Chauncey Billups system as a key help defender, helping off shooters, and getting his hands in passing lanes.
It’s because of the falling role that he’d be a great piece in the Denver Nuggets’ rotation. If a trade were to happen, Aaron Gordon would still be the main defender on the team but either in a switching system or just helping around Jokic, RoCo would add to Michael Malone’s defense.
I’ll say it again: the Jokic bump will help RoCo. At the moment, he’s playing without Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum and his shot profile is harder than usual. Throw him in Denver, especially at full strength, and he’ll likely be the fifth option on offense, a much easier role.
His $12.9 million deal expires this season so Denver would have to re-sign him in the upcoming offseason but it doesn’t look like he’ll be signing a similar deal given his decline so the Nuggets could afford an extension.
Trading away two key players in Denver’s frontcourt rotation hurts in the regular season but RoCo can play either big position in small lineups and when the playoffs come, Jokic will be playing 40-plus minutes anyway so there’s less need for depth.
dark. Next. Under-the-radar trade targets