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Denver Nuggets: 3 trade-up scenarios in the 2022 NBA Draft

By Sean Carroll

23 Jun. 2016; New York, NY, USA; Juan Hernangomez walks to the stage after being selected as the number fifteen overall pick to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)
23 Jun. 2016; New York, NY, USA; Juan Hernangomez walks to the stage after being selected as the number fifteen overall pick to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports) /
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6 Feb. 2021; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes (40) shoots the ball past Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) during the third quarter at Golden 1 Center. (Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports)
6 Feb. 2021; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes (40) shoots the ball past Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) during the third quarter at Golden 1 Center. (Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports) /

Denver Nuggets 2022 NBA Draft trade-up scenarios: Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings want to win now and Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer recently reported that the Kings are open to trading the fourth-overall pick in the upcoming draft for a win-now trade, could the Denver Nuggets be a viable trade partner?

Ismael Fatah, A Royal Pain wrote about the major decisions Monte McNair needs to make at this draft including moving on from the fourth pick:

"“A likely (and potentially terrifying) scenario could see the Kings packaging the fourth overall pick and a contract (Harrison Barnes at $18 million/year or Richaun Holmes at $11 million/year) for a ‘star’. This will depend of course on one’s definition of a star.”"

There aren’t many teams out there right now with stars on the market in exchange for picks and if the Nuggets believe Michael Porter Jr.‘s back is too much of a red flag moving forward, they could sell high on him now.

This trade gives Denver added wing depth in Harrison Barnes, greater defensive versatility, and the ability to bring in a blue chip prospect with a top-five pick.

I’ve wondered whether the Nuggets should trade for Barnes in the past as his ability to guard most positions would blend perfectly with Aaron Gordon, giving Denver one of the best wing defending combos in the league.

Sacramento wants to win now and is trying to break its league-leading streak of missing the playoffs. Adding MPJ gives them a high upside wing who, if he can stay healthy, might average over 20 points per game on efficient shooting next to De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.

I don’t know if they’ll stop anyone in the league, but at least they’ll outscore them.

Denver has no need to trade MPJ this offseason so I’ve left out their own first-round pick in this hypothetical. Because of that, it might be too high an asking price from Denver and they can just walk away from the deal.

If Sacramento can’t find a trade partner for their fourth-overall pick, they might not be in a position to demand Denver’s 2022 first-rounder back in exchange and I could see McNair getting desperate and pushing all his chips in for 2022-23.

Whether that’s the right decision or not for Sacramento, who knows, but when was the last time they made the right decision…