The Denver Nuggets could have a wild offseason full of moves if they're serious about making changes to get back to their top-contending status. One of the wilder, franchise-altering moves that could be pitched has just been thrown out by Bill Simmons, which would land the Nuggets Jaylen Brown, and send Jamal Murray east to Boston.
Brown's name has been thrown about in trade rumors for weeks, first getting his name thrown into the ring for the Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo before he was traded to the Miami Heat. Once that trade failed to materialize for the Celtics, Brown's name never came off of the trade market, and the Celtics have continued to listen to offers for Brown in the days that have followed.
Naturally, with the Nuggets looking for upgrades, the two teams became easy targets for a deal. But this newest pitch from Simmons for Brown to the Nuggets is the loudest proposal yet, putting real fuel on the fire that a Brown to the Nuggets trade is a real thought. Here's what Simmons proposed.
Nuggets receive: Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser
Celtics receive: Jamal Murray, Cameron Johnson
It's a simple player swap on paper, and it would save the Nuggets $5.2 million against the salary cap next season as well. But is it a trade the Nuggets should do?
The Nuggets would upgrade defensively, but they need a point guard
The Nuggets' starting lineup would be much improved defensively and have a potent offensive punch, but they'd lack a primary ball-handler and sorely need a point guard. But just think of the lineup of Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Brown, Peyton Watson (the Nuggets still need to re-sign him first), and a decent point guard. A three-time MVP, two NBA Finals MVPs, maybe the biggest and most important glue guy in the NBA, and a budding young two-way star.
Clearly, the Nuggets need a point guard in this trade scenario, but they could flip Hauser for one or even try to flip Christian Braun. They could look to re-sign Tyus Jones, who the Nuggets leaned on more than anyone expected in the Nuggets' final two playoff games against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jones has been a starter at times in his career and also has been a solid backup, but he would be the obvious weak link in the lineup.
If the Nuggets can come up with a contingency plan at point guard, or bring in a third team to get a point guard from in the trade, then they should do this trade for the change it would bring. Murray's defensive liabilities were one of the biggest downfalls of the Nuggets, and defense wins championships.
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