The Denver Nuggets' offseason could be wrought with change rather than a run-it-back approach, thanks to the team's woeful top-heavy salary cap issues. If those changes include taking a short gap year to get under the luxury tax threshold for the second year in a row, they could also include a trade involving Aaron Gordon to save cap space.
It seems unthinkable, but it could happen this summer. Mr. Nugget is on the trading block, as only Nikola Jokic is safe on the roster. Sam Amick appeared on the "Third Apron Podcast" with Yossi Gozlan, and he suggested a mock trade involving the Los Angeles Clippers that gets the Nuggets under the luxury tax in one fell swoop.
Clippers receive: Aaron Gordon
Nuggets receive: Derrick Jones Jr. and a first-round pick
It's a salary-saving dump for the Nuggets of one of their most beloved players, but it's a thought-provoking one if saving salary to avoid the repeater taxes is a goal of the team.
The Nuggets could enter a 'gap' year with this trade
What this trade would do is set up the Nuggets to take a 'gap' year, cut salary and expectations, and try to position themselves for one last run into Nikola Jokic's twilight.
Gordon's contract extension kicks in next season, and he goes from $22.8 to $33.6 million and change. Jones is set to make only $10.4 million. The Nuggets are already approximately $17 million over the tax threshold for next season, and this, along with the likely release of Jonas Valanciunas for cap-saving reasons, puts them well under the tax threshold.
Plus, the Nuggets lack control over future first-round picks, and they traded away three of their six. Gaining one back, with control in future trades, or to use it would also be beneficial.
This would also swing the door wide open to use the extra cap space to re-sign Peyton Watson, who will be a highly-sought after restricted free agent this summer.
Does this trade make sense for the Nuggets?
This is the conundrum of the issue. Does this make sense for the Nuggets? Only if they are serious about spending big money in 2027-28 to bring in what Nikola Jokic needs around him for another title window to open up.
Jones is a good defender on the perimeter, and he's a solid contributor, but he's not close to Gordon in terms of skill. Gordon is the Nuggets' second most important player behind Jokic, and this trade would set the Nuggets back, hence the gap year.
It's a tough spot, because on one hand, Gordon, when healthy, is so key for the Nuggets. But when he isn't on the floor, they're a different squad. He's the glue guy on the team, but a deal like this positions the Nuggets more toward the future with the Watson angle and a future-first-round pick. Tough calls all around for the Nuggets front office are coming this summer.
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