What can the Denver Nuggets trade this deadline?

The 2022 NBA trade deadline is fast approaching and it seems like a new rumor is coming out every day. It’s easy to get lost in the madness of the deadline so let’s keep it nice and simple, what might be on the table in potential negotiations for the Denver Nuggets.

After the Bryn Forbes trade and the recent string of wins, it looks like the Nuggets will be standing pat this deadline but you never know.

What can the Denver Nuggets trade: First-round picks

The Denver Nuggets own their 2022 first-round pick so they should be able to trade that in a potential deal. Wrong.

The Nuggets currently owe the Oklahoma City Thunder their 2023 first-round pick in the trade that saw Denver get the pick to draft R.J. Hampton.

The pick is top-14 protected, meaning if the Nuggets miss the playoff this season, they’ll keep it but if they make the playoffs, it goes to OKC. If OKC doesn’t get it this year, the same protections roll onto the next season, then the next.

But since there’s a chance that the Nuggets make the playoffs and their pick is sent to OKC, they aren’t able to trade their 2022 first-round pick because that would break the Stepien Rule, the rule that protects teams from trading consecutive first-round picks.

Teams have worked around the Stepien Rule by trading the pick on draft night (since they technically owned a pick on the day of the draft, not breaking the rule) but it can’t be moved at this year’s deadline.

On top of this, Denver owes the Orlando Magic a first-round pick (top-five protected) two years after the OKC pick conveys. That could be two years after this draft, or it could be in 2027, two years after the final year OKC could get the pick.

Confused yet? Fair enough.

All you need to know is that if Denver wants to move a first-round pick, they can trade their “first allowable” first-round pick, essentially giving another team an IOU of a first, giving them one whenever they can.

It’s pretty safe to say that the Nuggets will make the playoffs this season the “next available” pick is likely going to be a 2027 first-round pick.

If you really want them to move their 2022 first-rounder, you’ll have to wait till draft night.

What can the Denver Nuggets trade: Young talent

To all of you still reading after the above section, I commend you. As a reward, this section is going to be much easier.

One of the better ways to make a trade is to send an actual player back in a trade. The receiving team knows who it is, they know their contract situation, and there isn’t any lottery luck needed.

The Denver Nuggets have done an excellent job at drafting and developing talent in the time that Tim Connelly has been at the helm and there are plenty of prospects the team could throw in a potential deal.

The first player to mention would be Bones Hyland, the rookie out of VCU who has seemingly taken over Facundo Campazzo’s role as backup guard. Bones is on the first year of four on his rookie deal and any team receiving him would be happy to see how far he can grow with several years of team control.

The next player to mention would be Zeke Nnaji, the sweet-shooting big man who has found his comfort zone and stroke in the past couple of weeks. While he doesn’t have the same upside as Bones in my eyes, Zeke would be a welcome addition to any team looking to add some youth and shooting.

What can the Denver Nuggets trade: Non-max contracts

Greasing the skids for any deal are the non-max, smaller contracts that could be seen as great value or even buy-and-flip assets. For a major deal, like one for Bradley Beal, it’s almost impossible to trade a few mid-level deals for a max deal, but it happens.

In this range, the Denver Nuggets have Will Barton, Aaron Gordon, JaMychal Green, and Monte Morris. AG and Morris are essential to what the Nuggets do, but Barton and JaMychal are often put in trade discussions.

The Denver Nuggets are reportedly looking to include JaMychal’s salary in a potential deadline deal, especially with the rise of Zeke and the incoming DeMarcus Cousins cutting his role down.

If there is a move out there, like a Terrence Ross type, keep JaMychal’s name and salary in mind. Combined with a young player and the next available pick, it’s quite a lucrative offer and beats a lot of other contenders out there.