The Denver Nuggets haven’t had the season they were hoping for heading into the year. Less than two years after their 2023 NBA Championship, they are still in the playoff mix, but at 14-10, they are also in danger of falling into the Play-In Tournament at a moment’s notice in a crowded Western Conference.
Though the Nuggets’ offense is still in the top 10 in the NBA, their lack of options around Nikola Jokic is a growing concern. Jokic is having a generational season, but the guys around him haven’t exactly been inspiring. Jamal Murray, in particular, has been having a fairly inefficient season. And outside of him and Jokic, the Nuggets don’t have any real creators.
Because of that, they may be considering a move so drastic, it could alter the course of the franchise for years.
Nuggets trade interest in Zach LaVine and Jordan Poole is disastrous
According to Sam Amick and Tony Jones of The Athletic, the Nuggets are considering a trade (or have spoken to the opposing team about a trade) for multiple different offensive initiators, as well as some guys who could bolster their offense in other ways.
“With the NBA’s trade window opening this past weekend, and with the trade deadline less than two months away, the Nuggets are canvassing the league in pursuit of a player who can offer significant help offensively, league sources tell The Athletic.
“As a result, the Nuggets have either expressed interest in, or have had preliminary trade discussions on the following players: Chicago’s Zach Lavine, Washington’s Jordan Poole, Utah’s Jordan Clarkson, Atlanta’s De’Andre Hunter, Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson and Washington’s Jonas Valančiūnas.”
The last four names on that list aren’t too bad. If Denver managed to add one of Jordan Clarkson, De’Andre Hunter, Cam Johnson, or Jonas Valanciunas, it would be a solid move. All of them are on relatively manageable contracts and could help boost the Nuggets’ offense.
But Zach LaVine and Jordan Poole are another story.
LaVine is having a quietly great season for the Chicago Bulls this season. So far this year, he’s averaging 21.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 50.1% from the floor and 42.8% from beyond the arc.
The same can be said about Poole, who has played well this year. He’s averaging 20.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while shooting 43.4% from the field and 39.2% from deep.
At a glance, adding either of those statistical players to the Nuggets’ lineup would be nice. But that’s not the full tale of the tape.
Both of these guys are on massive contracts. LaVine has two more years after this one left on his deal, ending with a $48.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season. Meanwhile, Poole’s deal also stretches through the 2026-27 season. There are no options in his contract, and in the final year, he’s slated to make $34.0 million.
Both of these contracts would be brutal for the Nuggets to take on.
While LaVine and Poole are having solid seasons, who knows how long that will last? There’s a reason both guys are considered to have some of the worst contracts in the NBA. They have not been great for the past few years.
If Denver trades for one and they regress, they would be in an even worse spot than they are already at. Plus, in order to trade for one of those guys, they would have to give up significant assets.
They would have to give up one of Murray, Michael Porter Jr., or Aaron Gordon in a deal.
Should the Nuggets make that choice, it could end up hurting them for the next few years, which would not be great for Jokic’s title chances.
Denver is approaching some very rocky (pun intended) territory.