The first couple of months of the NBA regular season were filled with all kinds of trade rumors surrounding the Denver Nuggets. The team was said to be seeking an upgrade to the roster and they were sniffing around and being connected to just about every player that was rumored to be available.
But as the season went on and the calendar flipped to January, those rumors have mostly gone away. For one thing, the realization seemed to set in that the Nuggets have no draft picks or young assets to trade and their only real means to matching salary in any deal is Michael Porter Jr. and bad contracts like Zeke Nnaji and Dario Saric.
And for another, the Nuggets turned around their season, getting healthy and ripping off 11 wins in 14 games to shoot up the Western Conference standings. On top of that, the trade market has ground to a halt as teams wait for a resolution in the standoff between the Heat and Jimmy Butler.
Beyond that, the new CBA has made trades very difficult to execute due to financial restrictions and punishments, which has also made teams much more wary of taking on players who are seeking - or already making - big money, like Brandon Ingram, Bradley Beal, and other names we’ve heard bouncing around all season.
NBA insider lists Nuggets as best possible fit for Zach LaVine
But now that the February 6th trade deadline is just days away, talks have ramped up again and teams are starting to get serious. One team that has changed its tune and finally embraced a full teardown is the Chicago Bulls.
Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times has reported that the Bulls are “open for business” and the only untouchable player on the roster is rookie Matas Buzelis. This shouldn’t exactly come as breaking news, but it’s a reminder that Zach LaVine is sitting squarely on the trading block and Chicago would love to trade him.
This report came just hours after ESPN insider Kevin Pelton penned a column with 10 key available trade targets and their best possible fit. One of the players on the list was LaVine, and the team listed as the best possible fit was the Nuggets.
Trading for LaVine would be a mistake for Nuggets
Here’s the thing; sure, LaVine would fit well with the Nuggets. Heck, most good offensive players would fit great alongside Nikola Jokic. Zach can play on and off the ball, he can get to the basket, and he’s an outstanding shooter. He would probably be the best offensive player the Joker has ever played with.
But there’s simply too much overlap with Jamal Murray. Denver would be paying big money to another smaller guard who is a liability on the defensive end. With Murray, LaVine, Jokic, and Westbrook, the Nuggets would suddenly have a lot of guys who need the ball.
Furthermore, the Nuggets’ issue is not their offense. That unit is already elite; they need to find a way to improve their 18th-ranked defense if they want to contend for a title. A move for LaVine is not a move toward that goal.
Swapping MPJ for LaVine (even if the Bulls agree to take back Nnaji) is not moving the needle enough. The Nuggets would be getting smaller, worse on defense, and worse on the boards. Even if the offense could make sweet, beautiful music, Denver absolutely cannot afford to make a trade that makes them worse defensively.