The Nuggets used most of their bullets in the offseason, and the roster seems largely set for the near future, but if there’s an opportunity to make a move that offers a significant upgrade, they’d be crazy not to pounce. That’s exactly what Bill Simmons is forecasting: he said on his most recent podcast with Cousin Sal that he considers Denver a dark-horse team to trade for Trey Murphy of the Pelicans.
Simmons suggested that Murphy could be surprisingly available as New Orleans tries to build around their new rookies, Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears. Murphy may not be the best player on the trade market, but he may be the best value given his age and contract.
He’s a marksman who has developed his all-around offensive game and can be a top option for a good team. His defense has also come along to the point he’s not a shutdown guy, but he can certainly hold his own on that end.
Still just 25 years old and making just $112 million total until 2029, he could be one of the steals of the deadline if NOLA truly chooses to move him. The Nuggets may not seem like the most likely team to make a move, but the fit would be surprisingly perfect.
Nuggets could flip Johnson for Murphy
On the surface, the Nuggets don’t have much to swap, but if they could get Murphy in the door without giving up Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, or Aaron Gordon, they’d arguably have the best team in the league.
The move would be trading the newly acquired Cam Johnson, whatever picks they can scrounge together, and another young player or two. The problem for Denver would be their lack of draft capital, as they sent their last first-rounder out the door in the Johnson deal and have precious few second-round picks remaining.
They’d probably have to find a third team to play ball and add in some picks, but if the Nuggets are serious about this, they could put guys like Peyton Watson, Julian Strawther, and DaRon Holmes on the market, who may have some appeal to a young, rebuilding team like the Pelicans.
Ultimately, there may be too many variables involved for this trade to get done, and there are definitely other teams that can blow the Nuggets away if the Pels really do dangle Murphy. But if they like some of the Nuggets’ young players, Murphy would be a perfect fit in Denver that could change the team’s future and long-term outlook for the better.